Remote Underwater Exploration
Check here for our tips and suggestions on technical issues
We aren’t sure how this concept works but researchers at Beihang University claim to have developed a small, battery-operated, underwater drone that can not only withstand the pressures of the Mariana Trench but uses the pressure to propel itself.
The drone can also change its shape for various tasks, like using its fins to swim and glide through the water and then switching to legs for crawling along the ocean bed, like a crab.
Full article at: TheSunUK 25mar25
Blue Robotics released their Pressure Relief Valve (PRV) in 2022 but we still get questions about the difference between it and the Enclosure Vent and Plug.
The PRV has the functionality of an enclosure vent in that it can be opened manually and used to perform a vacuum test on your enclosure, but it also automatically releases any excess pressure built up inside a watertight enclosure. This automatic venting feature is very useful when you work with the BlueROV2 in warm climates or the enclosures are in direct sunlight while you prepare to launch.
The PRV plug (blue), when used with the backfill adapter (red), allows you to fill an enclosure with an inert gas or to pull an enclosure to vacuum with a vacuum plug (brass) while maintaining a seal.
So, while the PRV is a little more more expensive, the added functionality and versatility is well worth it.
And we recommend you keep a spare plug handy for both the vent and PRV, in case you lose one in the field.
ROV technicians / pilots will have at least one story about an ROV issue in the field for one reason or another: i.e. tether entanglement, power failure, loss of control, thruster failure… We certainly have had some close calls where our ROV technician has ended up in the water to retrieve their vehicle.
While some of us keep these stories to ourselves, we came across an article recently where an expedition’s primary ROV got entangled in nylon survey line and the back-up ROV sent to retrieve the primary vehicle also got stuck.
We are waiting breathlessly to hear how this story ends.
Full article at: Cassville-Democrat 08may24
Engineers at South Korea’s Pohang University of Science and Technology are developing a new ROV that doesn’t use propellers, rather is based on a salamander with fins and “flexible backbone” for locomotion. Named HERO-BLUE, this vehicle can crawl, walk, swim and wriggle through shallow-water areas not accessible by ROVs.
Full article at: CyberGuy.com 29apr24
Blue Robotics has identified a potential issue with their Mount for USB Camera (BR-100254) affecting the Low-Light USB Camera (BR-100126) updated in November 2021. The camera mount did not provide for the relocation of three resistors on the left side of the camera so, when mounted, the camera would press directly on these (very small) parts. Depending on the torque used to fasten the camera to the mount, some or all of these resistors could crack, leading to the camera’s failure.
If you have experienced a recent camera failure, please take high resolution photos of the board (see example below) and, if you bought the camera from us, contact us for a replacement camera and mount (make sure to supply photos).
If you sourced the camera from Blue Robotics directly, please use this link to contact Blue Robotics Support to log your issue.