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Under Ice Search Uses Multiple Micro-ROVs

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Click to enlarge. VideoRay donated the use of several ROVs from demonstration stock, allowing VideoRay personnel to directly participate and test new concepts for this type of searching.

Photo credit: VideoRay LLC
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The team carefully defined its search pattern and deployment plan.

Photo credit: VideoRay LLC

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The six identical ROVs were operated simultaneously from portable ice houses.

Photo credit: VideoRay LLC
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Preparing hole for VideoRay deployment. Holes in the ice were cut with a “ice saw” – a standard Stihl chain saw with environmentally friendly lubricant, and also with augers.

Photo credit: VideoRay LLC
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With temperatures between 0 and 20 degrees F, and 10 inches of snowfall, they went to work.

Photo credit: VideoRay LLC

Using VideoRay along with Sea Sprite scanning sonar.

Photo credit: VideoRay LLC

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Lights from VideoRay under the ice were clearly visible at night when the ROV was near the surface.

Photo credit: VideoRay LLC
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VideoRay equipped with manipulator, Sea Sprite sonar, and Desert Star transponder.

Photo credit: VideoRay LLC

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Unattended positioning system – three transponders in “L” shape with 40 feet distance for each leg. The white square on the yellow case is a patch antennae for the 802.11G protocol wireless transmission to the command station about a half mile away.

Photo credit: VideoRay LLC
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Detail of positioning system deployment.

Photo credit: VideoRay LLC
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VideoRays, generators, tents, heaters, and other equipment required were pulled out onto the ice by snowmobiles or all terrain vehicles. Shown here: Marcus Kolb, Director of VideoRay Research and Development..

Photo credit: VideoRay LLC
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Driving snow on the last day of the search reduced visibility and added some challenges. Shown here is a VideoRay equipped with new Imagenex 852 sonar.

Photo credit: VideoRay LLC
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While concerned about operating this much technology in fairly cold temperatures, the team experienced no temperature-related failures, and the units were operating well into the night.

VideoRay LLC