Knowra Remotely operated underwater vehicle Remotely operated underwater vehicle A remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) is an uncrewed submersible controlled from a surface vessel or shore through a tether. It carries equipment for observation, measurement, or underwater work.
Umbilical cable : A cable that carries power, data, or fluids between a vehicle and its support system. It links the ROV to its operator, often carrying commands and video alongside power.
Deep-sea exploration : The investigation of the ocean's deepest regions using instruments, vehicles, and direct observation. ROVs collect images and samples where human divers cannot safely work.
Autonomous underwater vehicle : An uncrewed underwater vehicle that follows a mission plan without continuous direct control. Unlike an ROV, an AUV normally operates without a physical tether or real-time piloting.
Poodle (submersible) : An early remotely operated underwater vehicle developed by Dimitri Rebikoff in the 1950s. Poodle is often cited among the first practical ROVs.
Thruster : A propulsion device that generates thrust by accelerating water or another fluid. Multiple thrusters let an ROV translate and rotate while hovering underwater.
Underwater inspection : The examination of submerged structures for damage, wear, or operational condition. ROVs inspect ship hulls, pipelines, dams, and offshore installations without sending divers.
Human-occupied vehicle : A submersible designed to carry people underwater. An ROV keeps people at the surface rather than placing them inside the vehicle.
Dimitri Rebikoff : A French engineer and underwater photography pioneer who developed early submersible technology. His work produced Poodle and advanced tethered underwater observation.
Tether management system : Equipment that stores, deploys, and retrieves a tether while controlling its tension. It reduces drag and entanglement by managing the cable between vessel and ROV.
Subsea intervention : The performance of maintenance or operational tasks on equipment beneath the sea. Work-class ROVs use manipulators and tools to service subsea infrastructure.
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