Humminbird Side Imaging Forums

Other Interest => DIY - ROVs => Topic started by: xXx on April 07, 2009, 03:58:13 AM

Title: Plans for a DIY ROV?
Post by: xXx on April 07, 2009, 03:58:13 AM

Has anyone come across plans to build a do-it-yourself ROV, low budget?  Not just an underwater camera in a housing, but remote arms with claw, mapping capabilities, camera, video, cargo retrieval, etc.?
Seems like it might be a decent thing to design and/or build.  Not just for yourself, but to sell.  I'd love to have one, and now that the 2009 Treasure Expo & Trade Show is over I may have time to think about building one with a set of plans.
xXx

Title: Re: Plans for a DIY ROV?
Post by: RGecy on April 07, 2009, 12:44:53 PM

Here is a great site to get started. Steve Thone has been the inspiration for many DIY ROVs.  I have built a similar version of the Sea Fox ROV and will post some pictures. Steve has taken it to the next level with Computer control.

Steve Thone's Homebuilt ROVs (http://home.comcast.net/~homebuiltrovs/seafoxretrofit.html)

Good Luck and I will certainly post some picts soon.

Robert

Title: Re: Plans for a DIY ROV?
Post by: Cane Pole on May 25, 2009, 08:07:22 PM

I built this ROV several years ago.  It has made many dives with no troubles.  It is camera only, but I only use it to spy on fish.  Only problem is underwater orientation.  I also tried a compass.  No luck.

I mark spots I want to investigate (underwater) using buoy markers with  hi vis cord  and follow the cord with the camera.  Crude, but effective.

(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z157/Tlewis38344/Underwater%20Rov/turd22.jpg)

  (http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z157/Tlewis38344/Underwater%20Rov/turd20jpg.w300h320.jpg)

Title: Re: Plans for a DIY ROV?
Post by: bruno.rosa on July 05, 2010, 12:56:27 PM

I Find one project called Sea Perch

http://seaperch.mit.edu/build.php (http://seaperch.mit.edu/build.php)

Bruno Rosa

Title: Re: Plans for a DIY ROV?
Post by: RGecy on September 04, 2011, 01:45:15 PM

I came across some of the picts of the ROV my Son and I built. It has proven useful to about 60ft and has a great image if water visibility is good. Thats the only problem here in SC, we have terrible vis. Less then 5 feet some times.? The vis only gets good when you get offshore 10-15 miles. None the less, it has proven to be a fun project!

It's a modified version of the Sea Fox ROV in the book by Harry Bohm, "Build your own underwater robot." Here are some great ROV links if anyone is interested. This design can be built for less than $300.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/robotrov/yguid=195345130 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/robotrov/yguid=195345130)  ROV Forum
http://home.comcast.net/~homebuiltrovs/ (http://)  Steve Thones ROV Page
http://www.ronsrovlinks.nl/modules/imlinks/ (http://www.ronsrovlinks.nl/modules/imlinks/)  Link to ROV Links? (See Homebuilt ROVs at bottom)

You can see the original version I built using the bilge pumps and the modified version wher I converted the bilge pumps to thrusters.
 
Robert

Title: Re: Plans for a DIY ROV?
Post by: c6c1 on October 05, 2012, 08:49:55 AM

There's a free set of plans for an inexpensive ROV at this site http://underwaterprojects.741.com/index.html (http://underwaterprojects.741.com/index.html)
I've attached some picture and animation of the whole project. The builder used a pivoting system for one of his designs which allows only two motors to achieve lateral and vertical movement.
http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii560/lost_tech/sub1_zps844a1575.gif (http://i1259.photobucket.com/albums/ii560/lost_tech/sub1_zps844a1575.gif)