ROV Popularity

Borchardt, J. K. (2008). ROBOTS OF THE SEA. Mechanical Engineering, 130(7), 36-39. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Topics:  Advantages of using ROVs 

Summary:  ROVs are gaining popularity with the engineering, marine science, and marine archaeology crowds.  The ROVs can search the ocean around the clock and discover things that man alone could never dream of seeing without ROVs.  ROVs are helping to identify and remedy problems on oil and gas rigs in the deep seas.  They also help engineers find oil.  It takes people to operate the ROVs, which means there is a demand for ROV flyers and technicians.  

The size of the ROV usually can determine its uses.  Small ROVs check ship hulls for terrorist activity and look inside pipelines for examinations.  Large ROVs go to the sea floor to do seismic testing and dig trenches for underwater pipelines.

Crews of 3-12 people are used to manage the operations of ROV work.  An example of the work they would do is identifying how far a pipeline moved after a hurricane.  To do this accurately, the ROV they use is equipped with mapping devices, up to 8 cameras, high beam lights, and about 500 volts of electricity supplied via fiber optic cables.

The equipment needed on an ROV can get heavy.  Some ROVs require up to 250 horsepower engines to navigate.  Arms on ROVs can house high pressure water jets, grinding tools, suction pumps for dredging, drills, saws, jack hammers, and more.  

Biologists use the ROVs to study fish colonies at rig sites.  They also test soils for researching recovery times from hurricane damage and other dangers.  Biologists’ and people around the globe will soon be able to enjoy knowing what lurks in the lowest depths of the ocean as ROV manufacturers develop more advanced ROVs that can travel deeper than ever before.  

Commentary:  The article is written for anyone wanting to learn about ROVs.  The author's language is clear to engineers and the public.  Descriptions of the uses for ROVs give the reader a good idea of why ROVs are important.  The uses of the ROVs make their work seem good. 
Information presented in the article came from experience of using ROVs on offshore structures.  

The article gives clear information on specific uses of ROVs to this day and plans for the future.  It advertised the demand for ROV technicians and operators.  It also provided a potential justification for biologists to use ROVs as research tools.  It seems like the ROV industry is a good industry to get involved in.  

T. Kurtin