DEVELOPMENT OF A SUBMARINE INSPECTION REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE

Benthos, a leader in the development of Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) systems, has conceptualized a miniature ROV system capable of providing a method of inspecting and maintaining submarine systems and components located in free flood areas while the submarine remains waterborne. Important advantages of the ROV system are that it will allow the Navy to conduct submarine inspection and maintenance operations that previously have either required the ship to be placed in dry dock or the use of divers. The ROV is small and is configured to allow entrance, unencumbered maneuvering, and egress without removal of protective grids and structural elements of the free flood areas. The ROV will be capable of transmitting real time video and other sensor data via an umbilical to a surface or ship-mounted operator control and monitoring station. Simple tools and devices can be fitted to the ROV to allow maintenance activities. The ROV can also be used to position and apply other surface deployed inspection, maintenance and repair tools. The ROV system concept and its operational use meets all Navy safety requirements and is within the capabilities of submarine Intermediate Maintenance Activities (IMAs). The concept incorporates standard Benthos production ROV modules and components minimizing development risk, allowing rapid future finalization and commercialization of the proposed system, and, most importantly, resulting in low cost production systems. The objective of the Phase I effort is to fully define a specification for a Phase II prototype system. During Phase II a prototype will be fabricated, demonstrated in a Navy IMA environment, and refined to a final preproduction configuration. During Phase III the ROV system will be commercialized.