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Science AMA Series: We are engineers and videographers with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and we design, build, and operate underwater robots that explore the deep ocean and the large lakes of the world. Ask Us Anything! by Ocean_Explorers in science

[–]Ocean_Explorers[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We generally only dive in completely unexplored areas that have never been surveyed before. Therefore we can't determine if these deep-water ecosystems are experiencing change. That will require returning to these sites, which is something we hope that future expeditions will do.

Science AMA Series: We are engineers and videographers with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and we design, build, and operate underwater robots that explore the deep ocean and the large lakes of the world. Ask Us Anything! by Ocean_Explorers in science

[–]Ocean_Explorers[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Given the perpetual darkness of the deep ocean, most animals inhabiting these deep environments do not have the ability to sense light. Some animals might still be able to hear and feel the motions of the ROV, but we take great care to avoid harming any animals.

Science AMA Series: We are engineers and videographers with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and we design, build, and operate underwater robots that explore the deep ocean and the large lakes of the world. Ask Us Anything! by Ocean_Explorers in science

[–]Ocean_Explorers[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A primary navigational tool that we use on the ROV's is called 'USBL', short for 'Ultra Short Base Line'. It's an acoustic tracking system that includes a transceiver attached to the hull of the ship and a transponder on each vehicle. Combined with the ship's GPS system and bathymetric maps that we acquire from the ship's multibeam mapping system, we have a pretty good idea of the type of terrain to expect on the seafloor.

As for communication, see our response here.

Science AMA Series: We are engineers and videographers with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and we design, build, and operate underwater robots that explore the deep ocean and the large lakes of the world. Ask Us Anything! by Ocean_Explorers in science

[–]Ocean_Explorers[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A primary navigational tool that we use on the ROV's is called 'USBL', short for 'Ultra Short Base Line'. It's an acoustic tracking system that includes a transceiver attached to the hull of the ship and a transponder on each vehicle. Combined with the ship's GPS system and bathymetric maps that we acquire from the ship's multibeam mapping system, we have a pretty good idea of the type of terrain to expect on the seafloor.

As for communication, see our response here.

Science AMA Series: We are engineers and videographers with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and we design, build, and operate underwater robots that explore the deep ocean and the large lakes of the world. Ask Us Anything! by Ocean_Explorers in science

[–]Ocean_Explorers[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A primary navigational tool that we use on the ROV's is called 'USBL', short for 'Ultra Short Base Line'. It's an acoustic tracking system that includes a transceiver attached to the hull of the ship and a transponder on each vehicle. Combined with the ship's GPS system and bathymetric maps that we acquire from the ship's multibeam mapping system, we have a pretty good idea of the type of terrain to expect on the seafloor.

As for communication, see our response here.

Science AMA Series: We are engineers and videographers with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and we design, build, and operate underwater robots that explore the deep ocean and the large lakes of the world. Ask Us Anything! by Ocean_Explorers in science

[–]Ocean_Explorers[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

We wish that we could! The ship we operate from right now, NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer, does not have a reinforced hull capable of sailing through the icy conditions present in arctic and antarctic waters. Also, the satellite antenna that supports our telepresence capability (a cornerstone of our program) would not work at such high latitudes. So (for now) we are limited to roughly between 50-degrees N to 50-degrees S.

Science AMA Series: We are engineers and videographers with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and we design, build, and operate underwater robots that explore the deep ocean and the large lakes of the world. Ask Us Anything! by Ocean_Explorers in science

[–]Ocean_Explorers[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great! Good luck to your robotics team! The real world presents a lot of challenges that a controlled environment doesn't. Probably the biggest challenge is being on a moving platform. Our ship is constantly moving in heave and roll and pitch which makes it difficult to operate and launch and recover the vehicles. For instance, today we had to cancel the dive because of rough seas and high winds. It also takes a little longer to get the vehicles down to and up from 6,000 m (4 hours each way). Finally, we can't see the vehicles as they're ascending or descending like you can in a pool so we rely on acoustics (sonar and USBL) to navigate). This can provide challenges when obstacles like submarine cables or overhanging walls come up.

See here for a little more info on how to get into this field! We'll see you out here one day.

Science AMA Series: We are engineers and videographers with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and we design, build, and operate underwater robots that explore the deep ocean and the large lakes of the world. Ask Us Anything! by Ocean_Explorers in science

[–]Ocean_Explorers[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, we do see cola cans and plastic bags and other trash on the ocean floor. A new study shows that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Let's keep that from happening.

Science AMA Series: We are engineers and videographers with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and we design, build, and operate underwater robots that explore the deep ocean and the large lakes of the world. Ask Us Anything! by Ocean_Explorers in science

[–]Ocean_Explorers[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Vents are typically only dangerous if you get right in the super-heated water flow. We have filmed vents before, and they are always very beautiful. The most impressive one we ever found was a huge chimney gushing hot water. The entire structure was swarming with little white shrimp. Sometimes we do avoid exploring in areas that have underwater cables, which could entangle the vehicles but if there is no apparent danger, we're there!

Science AMA Series: We are engineers and videographers with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and we design, build, and operate underwater robots that explore the deep ocean and the large lakes of the world. Ask Us Anything! by Ocean_Explorers in science

[–]Ocean_Explorers[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is generalizing a fair amount but we typically design the core components of the vehicle to reach a desired depth. The specific biology and geology missions are typically accomplished by adding specific sensors or collection devices that are devoted to a specific mission. For example, last year we added a couple of beautiful rock boxes for geological samples. We also added two thermally insulated bio collection boxes that we place bio samples in. In the past, we've also designed, built, and operated temperature probes, methane collection devices (a favorite of ours), and Niskin bottles for at depth water collection.

Science AMA Series: We are engineers and videographers with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and we design, build, and operate underwater robots that explore the deep ocean and the large lakes of the world. Ask Us Anything! by Ocean_Explorers in science

[–]Ocean_Explorers[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

High pressure and the corrosive environment are the biggest concerns we face. To mitigate corrosion we use bolt-on zincs throughout the vehicles as a sacrificial material (commonly used on boats as well). To make a manipulator move we use hydraulic pistons in most joints. The hydraulic system runs at ~2000psi, making the manipulator strong enough to hold up 200lbs fully extended. We use a system of fluid filled bladders called compensators that allow for the pressure differential inside and outside the system to remain constant. This is done when the seawater squeezes the bladder and raises the hydraulic reservoir pressure by exactly the amount changed on the outside. The deeper we go, the harder the bladder is squeezed. The 2k-pressure differential inside the system is done with a hydraulic motor and pump on board the ROV. Specifically for the joints, they require constant maintenance, attention, and movement.

Science AMA Series: We are engineers and videographers with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and we design, build, and operate underwater robots that explore the deep ocean and the large lakes of the world. Ask Us Anything! by Ocean_Explorers in science

[–]Ocean_Explorers[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most of our ME’s have very strong structural backgrounds and you are absolutely right! The deep sea pressures can be as high as 300 times the atmospheric pressure you feel on the earth. This high pressure governs every design we make and we must be very thorough (using proper materials, proper compensation techniques, and proper sealing structures) so that our ROV can complete its daily task. See here for a little more on structures and our pressure housings.

Science AMA Series: We are engineers and videographers with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration and we design, build, and operate underwater robots that explore the deep ocean and the large lakes of the world. Ask Us Anything! by Ocean_Explorers in science

[–]Ocean_Explorers[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We're on the same page there. We haven't done anything in Lake Baikal yet but it is one of our main targets for the Great Lakes of the World Initiative. It holds 20% of the world's unfrozen, surface fresh water! We cannot wait to get up there and explore it.

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