NUROV: The Network-controlled Underwater Remote Observation Vehicle

NVKOV is a small, observation class, remotely operated underwater vehicle developed at the Hawaii Mapping Research Group (HMRG) of the University of Hawai´i at Manoa. Utilizing a 100BASE-T IP network, NUROV is controlled via a web browser virtual control panel with streaming video from its onboard camera. The vehicle has two horizontal thrusters, a vertical thruster, and a motorized tilt for the onboard color video camera. Illumination is provided by Light Emitting Diode (LED) arrays that are mounted on either side of the camera; these arrays tilt with the camera to always illuminate the camera´s field of view. The thruster motors, tilt motor, and junction box are oil filled for pressure tolerance. The prototype housings are designed for shallow water up to 50 meters, but future housings for depths to 6000 meters are planned. While connected to a node in an ocean observatory, NUROV can be used to monitor and investigate the area adjacent to the node. In addition to usage while connected to ocean observatory nodes, NUROV may also be deployed from a ship, lowered to the sea floor by a fiber-optic electromechanical cable. With the addition of a network switch, multiple vehicles could be deployed simultaneously on a single cable. Connecting the NUROV network to the Internet would allow users located around the world to operate the vehicle and to view the streaming video; this would be particularly useful for international collaboration and educational outreach.