Remotely operated underwater vehicle

Abstract

A system for communicating with a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) includes an ROV coupled to a surface buoy by a tether. A controller is coupled to a first wireless transceiver and a second wireless transceiver is attached to the surface buoy. Control signals are transmitted from the controller through the first wireless transceiver the second wireless transceiver on the surface buoy. The control signals are then transmitted through the tether to the ROV. Feedback and sensor signals are transmitted from the ROV through the wireless transceivers to the controller.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a remotely operated underwater vehicle having a propulsion mechanism, wings that provide downward lift and directional controls;   a surface buoy;   a tether coupled between the remotely operated underwater vehicle and the surface buoy, the tether having a communications cable;   a first wireless transceiver coupled to a controller; and   a second wireless transceiver mounted on the surface buoy;   
     wherein control data is transmitted from the controller to the first wireless transceiver to the second wireless transceiver and through the communications cable to the remotely operated underwater vehicle to control the operation of the remotely operated underwater vehicle. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the communications cable includes electrical conductors. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the communications cable includes an optical fiber. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the remotely operated underwater vehicle includes sensors and sensor data is transmitted at a data transfer rate of about 1-12 mbps from the remotely operated underwater vehicle through the communications cable and the second wireless transceiver to the first wireless transceiver. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tether includes a power cable and the surface buoy has a power supply which transmits electrical power through the power cable to the remotely operated underwater vehicle. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tether has a fairing that reduces hydrodynamic drag. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the tether is stored on the surface buoy. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the tether is stored on the remotely operated underwater vehicle. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  the tether has a diameter that is less than about ⅜ inch and a length greater than about 500 feet. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  the tether has a diameter that is less than about ⅛ inch and a length greater than about 1000 feet. 
   
   
       11 . A method for operating a comprising:
 placing a remotely operated underwater vehicle having a propulsion mechanism, wings that provide downward lift and directional controls in a body of water;   floating a surface buoy on the surface of the body of water;   transmitting control data from a controller to a first wireless transceiver;   transmitting the control data from the first wireless transceiver to the second wireless transceiver;   transmitting the control data from the second wireless transceiver through a communications cable to the remotely operated underwater vehicle to control the operation of the remotely operated underwater vehicle.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the remotely operated underwater vehicle includes sensors and sensor data is transmitted at a data transfer rate of about 1-12 mbps from the remotely operated underwater vehicle through the communications cable and the first wireless transceiver to the second wireless transceiver. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the sensors include video cameras and the sensor data includes video images. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 moving the remotely operated underwater vehicle through the body of water; and   pulling the surface buoy to follow the remotely operated underwater vehicle.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 storing a portion of the tether on the surface buoy; and   releasing the portion of the tether from the surface buoy as the remotely operated underwater vehicle travels deeper into the body of water.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 retracting the portion of the tether into the surface buoy as the remotely operated underwater vehicle travels towards the surface of the body of water.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 storing a portion of the tether on the remotely operated underwater vehicle; and   releasing the portion of the tether from the remotely operated underwater vehicle as the remotely operated underwater vehicle travels deeper into the body of water.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 retracting the portion of the tether into the remotely operated underwater vehicle as the remotely operated underwater vehicle travels towards the surface of the body of water.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 transmitting power from the surface buoy through the tether to the remotely operated underwater vehicle to power the propulsion system.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 shutting off power to the propulsion system of the remotely operated underwater vehicle which causes the remotely operated underwater vehicle to float to the surface of the body of water.