FISH FARMING TECHNOLOGY
Precision and dynamic control:
The SRV-8
by Rebecca Sherratt, Features Editor, International Aquafeed
“This ROV is ideal for use
in the aquaculture industry for net and mooring inspections as well
as mort collections”
In International Aquafeed we have covered a variety of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for the aquaculture industry, and it always amazes me to witness how quickly such technology evolves within the industry. One of the latest examples of a ground-breaking underwater vehicle is California-based RJE Oceanbotics™ SRV-8. This ROV is ideal for use in the aquaculture industry for net and mooring inspections as well as mort collections, with an exciting host of advanced features to boot. When asked what they believed the ROV market was missing, Oceanbotics™ explained their goal with the SRV-8: to create an ROV that is as easy to fly as a drone, is the most maneuverable, and intuitive to allow any operator to perform a multitude of tasks in almost any underwater environment. Oceanbotics™ successfully achieved this goal by developing RJE’s exclusive Dynamic Vector Control (DVC), advanced software smarts that command the eight vectored thrusters and enables six degrees of freedom in movement. It is piloted using a standard Xbox controller, making the control of the SRV-8 immediately familiar to many operators. The vehicle is battery operated which removes the need for external power sources. And with the addition of external accessories such as sonar and navigation, the SRV-8 becomes an essential underwater tool. Complex manœuvres are fluid and easily achieved with the SRV-8’s built-in ‘smarts’ system; climb, pitch, ascend, descend, move left, right, forward and backward with ease by a simple thumb gesture. Even for less experienced operators the SRV-8’s precision station-keeping technology and hold functions allow the user to lock the vehicle onto a specific depth, pitch or heading angle. With these advanced functions the SRV-8 nearly flies itself. When watching demonstrations of the ROV in action, one remarkable feature I discovered was the sheer speed with which the SRV-8 can be placed into the field and set to work. Upon arriving at the launch site, the device can be in the water in under three minutes. The operator can achieve any task from any platform using the topside box with 8.4-inch sunlight readable screen.
Dual-mode camera and LED lights
Oceanbotics™ SRV-8 is equipped with a dual mode camera to accommodate every requirement; a real-time analog feed for the operator, as well as a high-resolution digital signature for recording and viewing on-site. Any recordings made on the ROV can be played back with ease on a laptop or PC, along with the ability to view sonar and navigation data records (if equipped with optional R-NAV system). The operator sees all with the SRV-8’s two 1,500 lumen LED lights penetrating the murky depths. The lights illuminate a full 135° in front of the ROV with a third of the brightness of full sunlight, enabling users to complete any underwater operations with clarity. Should further light be needed, additional lights can also be installed onto the easily customisable frame.
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34 | October 2019 - International Aquafeed