Unmanned Submersibles and Robots
The evolution of mankind’s penetration into the deep is moving towards the
increased construction and use of robots, which are more practical and less
expensive than the use of manned submersibles.
Deep-towed bottom camera stations were the early vehicles first used to explore
the sea floor landscape. For example the ‘‘troika’’ sledge, which is similar to a
snow sledge that could be towed along the sea floor, was extensively used to
prepare the FAMOUS diving operation in 1972 (Fig. 3.3). Jacques Cousteau
designed this instrument during the early sixties.
Other video camera and photographic devices are mounted on large grabs and
metallic frames as well as on coring and drilling pipe devices. Frames built of a
titanium alloy were the most commonly used for transporting cameras and electronic devices prior the use of more sophisticated robots. One of these deep towed
camera engines which has often been used by IFREMER during our expeditions
was called the Scampi (acronym for Système de Camera Ponctuel Interactive).
Scampi is an Interactive Camera System towed at 2 kn behind the ship. It is
2 m 9 0.8 m 9 1.2 m in size, and designed to operate at 5–10 m above the sea
floor, but it can descend up to 6,000 m deep. Usually these instruments carry a
total of 2000 W of lamps and 35 mm color film for slide photographs. Each device
contains 800 frames. The pictures should be taken as close as possible to the
bottom, at \15 m from the target.
Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) are not only able to do video and photographic coverage but they are more suitable for preliminary exploration such as
mapping and bottom sonar imaging for detecting small structures which cannot be
seen from surface ships. ROVs are able to detect small fissures, make detailed
magnetic surveys and can be sent out to locate hydrothermal vents. They could
also carry instruments to be deployed on the sea floor. The ROV are attached to a
coaxial electrical cable and/or a fiber optic cable that transmits energy to the
vehicle while it is performing on the sea floor. The commands and feedback data to
the surface are controlled by the instrument’s operators, directly from the ship
(Figs. 3.4, 3.5). The engine navigates on the sea floor while tethered by an
‘‘umbilical cord’’ that helps the device to move with its own electrical propulsions
over an area with a radius of about 200–300 m in diameter. Usually ROVs are
easier to transport, therefore they can be used from many support ships as long as
they have sufficient deck space and feasible launching and recovery equipment. An
ROV and its support ship will form an inseparable couple since they are dependent
on each other and it is necessary that there be excellent coordination between the
pilots of the ROV and the ship’s officers on the bridge in order to avoid any
difficulties. The bridge must anticipate the motion of the ROV on the bottom so it
will not overshoot the limits of distance that the vehicle can travel without being
retained or pulled by the ship. The ROV’s tether is not strong enough to resist
breaking in the event of strong pulls by the vessel. The tether has the same neutral
floatability as the ROV and must be allowed to be loose and free at all times,
Unmanned Submersibles and Robots
65
The evolution of mankind’s penetration into the deep is moving towards the
increased construction and use of robots, which are more practical and less
expensive than the use of manned submersibles.
Deep-towed bottom camera stations were the early vehicles first used to explore
the sea floor landscape. For example the ‘‘troika’’ sledge, which is similar to a
snow sledge that could be towed along the sea floor, was extensively used to
prepare the FAMOUS diving operation in 1972 (Fig. 3.3). Jacques Cousteau
designed this instrument during the early sixties.
Other video camera and photographic devices are mounted on large grabs and
metallic frames as well as on coring and drilling pipe devices. Frames built of a
titanium alloy were the most commonly used for transporting cameras and electronic devices prior the use of more sophisticated robots. One of these deep towed
camera engines which has often been used by IFREMER during our expeditions
was called the Scampi (acronym for Système de Camera Ponctuel Interactive).
Scampi is an Interactive Camera System towed at 2 kn behind the ship. It is
2 m 9 0.8 m 9 1.2 m in size, and designed to operate at 5–10 m above the sea
floor, but it can descend up to 6,000 m deep. Usually these instruments carry a
total of 2000 W of lamps and 35 mm color film for slide photographs. Each device
contains 800 frames. The pictures should be taken as close as possible to the
bottom, at \15 m from the target.
Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) are not only able to do video and photographic coverage but they are more suitable for preliminary exploration such as
mapping and bottom sonar imaging for detecting small structures which cannot be
seen from surface ships. ROVs are able to detect small fissures, make detailed
magnetic surveys and can be sent out to locate hydrothermal vents. They could
also carry instruments to be deployed on the sea floor. The ROV are attached to a
coaxial electrical cable and/or a fiber optic cable that transmits energy to the
vehicle while it is performing on the sea floor. The commands and feedback data to
the surface are controlled by the instrument’s operators, directly from the ship
(Figs. 3.4, 3.5). The engine navigates on the sea floor while tethered by an
‘‘umbilical cord’’ that helps the device to move with its own electrical propulsions
over an area with a radius of about 200–300 m in diameter. Usually ROVs are
easier to transport, therefore they can be used from many support ships as long as
they have sufficient deck space and feasible launching and recovery equipment. An
ROV and its support ship will form an inseparable couple since they are dependent
on each other and it is necessary that there be excellent coordination between the
pilots of the ROV and the ship’s officers on the bridge in order to avoid any
difficulties. The bridge must anticipate the motion of the ROV on the bottom so it
will not overshoot the limits of distance that the vehicle can travel without being
retained or pulled by the ship. The ROV’s tether is not strong enough to resist
breaking in the event of strong pulls by the vessel. The tether has the same neutral
floatability as the ROV and must be allowed to be loose and free at all times,
Unmanned Submersibles and Robots
65