VideoRay LLC, the organizers of the only annual Inspection-Class Micro-ROV conference (VIPS) to concentrate on underwater robots, or Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) announced details of two VIPS conferences that have just been completed in Lisbon, Portugal and Key Largo, Florida, United States. Over 120 people from 22 countries attended one of the two conferences, and 10 delegates attended both. With presentations, workshops, and classroom instruction spread over three days, the conferences provided valuable insight into how micro-ROVs are operated, maintained, and utilized in a wide range of missions throughout the world.
The highlight of each event was the conference keynote by Scott Bentley, President of VideoRay, where he outlined how VideoRay, and the industry it leads, is evolving and growing. Marcus Kolb, VideoRay's Director of Research and Development presented on the future of VideoRay, focusing on developments which will soon deliver more powerful, and interoperable microROV sensors.
As with previous VIPS conferences, many users described how they are using their VideoRay systems to accomplish difficult and demanding tasks. At the Lisbon conference presentations included search and recovery techniques by the St. Louis, Minnesota, US Sheriff's Office, challenging offshore missions in the Black Sea in Turkey by a consultant from Cocoa Beach, FL, and inspection of hydro-power plants, dams and water tunnels from Norway to Tanzania by an Norwegian engineering firm. A representative from Plymouth Aquarium described an exhibit where a VideoRay, Seabotix, and AC-ROV are raced through an obstacle course several times a day - the VideoRay wins most often and has had the fewest days when it is out of service due to maintenance problems.
At the Key Largo conference, VideoRay shipwreck research was discussed by a underwater archeologist from Istanbul, Turkey. A presentation on use of VideoRays in the Adriatic for explosive ordnance detection was given by the University of Zagreb, along with a presentation on VideoRay's role in Potable Water Tank inspection by a specialist from a firm in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. The private firm responsible for underwater security in Port Bustamante, Jamaica showed videos and discussed how VideoRays located two different drug-smuggling containers bolted to ships about to leave the port. A mission to investigate the wreck of the USS Houston in the seas off Jakarta, Indonesia was presented with video of the remains of the ship.
MicroROVs are increasingly used with companion technologies, and this conference demonstrated this in several ways. At one point in the Lisbon conference a presenter controlled a VideoRay located in Key Largo, Florida, USA, over an internet link. Other presentations showed how microROVs could be used along with side scan sonar, positioning systems, and other technologies to locate, confirm, and recover lost objects underwater.
VideoRay customers, dealers, and prospective customers shared their ROV experiences and operating tips with one another. One delegate from New Zealand discussed how he had recovered a pickup truck in over 400 feet of water without divers - just using VideoRays to deliver ropes, cables, and lift bags to the vehicle. Another recalled how he had taken his 500 foot depth rated VideoRay to repeated dives below 700 feet without problems. Others compared techniques, successes, failures, and lessons learned well past scheduled activities each day.
Next year's conference is in the planning stages, and the location(s) and date(s) will be posted on www.videoray.com before the end of 2006.
