Inspection conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does the ROV perform in murky/dirty/dark water?

  The ROV cameras see underwater just as well as the human eye. If the water is extremely murky, you will need to rely on other means to navigate and carry out the inspection. Heading and depth sensors can tell you the direction you’re moving through the water, which is useful for reaching a specific target, but these sensors won’t tell you your exact position. Acoustic technology such as USBL Positioning can tell you where you are underwater, but the user won’t be able to visualize what is there. The best tool for operations in murky water is sonar. We highly recommend equipping the ROV with sonar when working in murky water to effectively address this issue.

• Is the ROV illuminated?

  All Deep Trekker ROVs are equipped with shadowless, dimmable LED headlights. These lights are highly efficient to minimize the impact on battery life when they are on. We offer additional lighting options for dark, enclosed missions where sunlight cannot reach or for nighttime operations. The DTG3 comes standard with 1000 lumens of light and can be upgraded to 5400 lumens. The REVOLUTION comes standard with 8400 lumens of light and can be equipped with up to 11,800 lumens.

• What is the maintenance for an ROV?

  Simply rinse the ROV with clean water if it has been in saltwater and keep the batteries charged. Since there are no dynamic seals that need to be greased or parts that require regular replacement, there is very little maintenance. If the drone gets dirty, we always recommend thoroughly rinsing it off, including the tether! This can be done with water, and optionally with soap or chlorine.

• How well does the ROV perform in currents?

  This is a frequently asked question, but the answer isn’t as simple as a number or specification. It depends on the application. Generally, ROV inspections and surveys can be divided into two main categories: swimming to a single point or performing a thorough evaluation of an entire area. When an ROV is swimming to a single point, it can handle more current because it doesn’t matter what flight path it takes to get there— as long as it reaches the target. There are tools to help guide you, such as USBL Positioning Systems, Imaging Sonars, or even Heading and Depth Sensors. The DTG3 ROV can withstand up to two knots of current to reach a target, while the Revolution can handle up to three knots of current.

  When performing a thorough survey, the DTG3 has active gyroscopic stabilization, automatic heading, and depth control to help it maintain its course and stay on a stable path. However, without the extra motors found on the Revolution, the DTG3 is best used during slack tide, in currents ranging from 0.5 knots to one knot. The Revolution, with its six-direction propellers and higher power, can counter currents in any direction and conduct thorough evaluations in currents up to two knots.

  It’s important to note that the length of the tether affects the ROV’s ability to fight currents. The more cable you deploy, the larger the water surface the ROV has to drag through. Deep Trekker’s battery-powered ROVs use thinner diameter (5mm) tethers compared to top-driven vehicles— this is beneficial because the resistance effect increases exponentially with thicker tethers. The DTG3 is most effective when it has less than 300 meters of cable deployed. Beyond 300 meters, it is best to operate in lower currents. The Revolution is well-suited for operations with up to 800 meters of tether deployed.