A Brief History of ROVs

Introduction

• Article from Sea Technology magazine, published on October 18, 2019.
• Acknowledges the contribution of ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) in various fields.

Early Development of ROVs

• 1864: The PUV (Programmed Underwater Vehicle), a torpedo, developed by Luppis-Whitehead Automobile in Austria.
• 1953: The first tethered ROV named POODLE was developed by Dimitri Rebikoff.

Evolution and Use

• Late 1960s: U.S. Navy started developing robots for underwater ordnance recovery.
• 1980s: Commercial companies adopted ROV technology for the oil and gas industry.
• Current Uses: ROVs are employed in exploration, commercial applications, dam and water-tank inspections, evidence recovery, pipeline maintenance, aquaculture, and drowning-victim recovery.

Case Study

• James City County, Virginia: Utilization of JW Fishers SeaOtter-2 ROV in incident involving a submerged vehicle.
  • ROV confirmed no bodies were inside the vehicle.
  • Helped in identifying the vehicle's make, model, and condition.
  • Discovered vehicle was stolen two years prior.
• Public Safety Dive Training: SeaOtter-2 used in a regional training event for archaeological survey.
  • Assisted in identifying ship remains from the Revolutionary War in Yorktown, Virginia.

Conclusion

ROVs have a rich history and have developed from military and commercial origins to versatile tools used in various industries today. They are essential in underwater search and recovery operations and continue to evolve with technological advancements.