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VideoRay Explores Cave in Yucatán, Site of Human Sacrifices - October 17, 2003

Underwater Robot Captures Video of Skulls and Strange Cave Life to Support Scientific Research for National Geographic

VideoRay announced today that Bob Christ and Marcus Kolb of VideoRay operated a VideoRay ROV (remotely operated vehicle) on a scientific mission featured in the October 2003 issue of National Geographic magazine and on nationalgeographic.com. The expedition explored sacred sinkholes, called Cenotes, in the Yucatán. The VideoRay entered several Cenotes in search of Maya artifacts and cave biology and found skeletons of victims who had been sacrificed in ancient times. Unlike divers, the 8-pound VideoRay traveled to depths up to 450 feet and could stay there indefinitely, gathering video, still pictures, and scientific readings.

Kolb, director of research and development, and Christ, field mission expert, spent two weeks in the jungle accompanying photographers and scientists. With the VideoRay, they reached depths and captured underwater photographs that might not be possible by divers; identified water conditions; observed isopods and other cave life; and explored tiny passages too small and dangerous for divers. Equipped with a Sony 5 mega pixel camera with a wide-angle adapter, the VideoRay took high-resolution photos of the sacred underwater caves.

Kolb described how he and Christ would lug the 70-pound (30 kilo) VideoRay equipment into the jungle each day, thankful it was much lighter than the SCUBA equipment the divers required. Then, Kolb and Christ would lower the VideoRay to a Cenote, start up the tiny generator, and stay for hours measuring water parameters and looking for cave biology. In Cenote Sabak Ha, Kolb recalls tying a chicken foot to the YSI sonde on the VideoRay, taking it to 450 feet, and waiting to see what marine life would appear. The YSI Sonde measured depth and thickness of the halocline, where fresh water meets salt water. The VideoRay continuously monitored dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature levels. The readings were recorded on a laptop connected to the VideoRay’s control box.

Live video from the VideoRay was sent to the dive supervisor at the surface. The VideoRay scoped out Cenotes before divers entered and provided a precautionary glimpse of underwater conditions. While divers were in more than 200-foot depths of the Cenote, the tiny yellow submersible accompanied them as a dive buddy would, capturing live video and documenting the exploration.

“ It was quite an experience to use all this high tech equipment by day and sleep in hammocks with barely a roof over us at night,” Kolb says.

About VideoRay:
With more than 2,000 Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) in service around the world, VideoRay has clearly become the global leader in Observation ROV technology. VideoRay is an extremely versatile, portable, affordable, and reliable solution for underwater operations including surveys, offshore inspections, search & recovery, homeland & port security, science & research, fish farming, and other unique applications in underwater environments. “Plug and play” technology allows you to quickly attach sensors and accessories in the field so you can successfully complete your mission. VideoRay is available on the General Services Administration.

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WHY VIDEORAY?

AFFORDABILITY

With ROVs starting under $10,000 (in the US), the cost is quickly justified when compared to commercial dive missions or funding the purchase, mobilization, staffing, and operation of larger ROVs.

PORTABILITY

One person can transport the tiny 8-pound sub, control box and tether. The Scout system weighs less than 70 pounds and packs neatly in one rolling Pelican case. All other systems fit in two Pelican cases that can be transported in a car trunk or helicopter, or checked as airline baggage.

USABILITY

Driving the VideoRay is similar to operating a video game. A specially trained ROV pilot is not needed. (In fact, kids raised on video games routinely put adults to shame piloting VideoRay.). VideoRay is equally at home with a search and rescue team as it is with a yacht owner enjoying live views of a coral reef in St. Thomas. Additional controls on advanced models include front camera focus and tilt, rear camera selection and automatic depth holding (see the product detail pages for complete lists of features and capabilities of each model).

SAFETY

Since VideoRay uses less than 500 watts of power, a car or marine battery with inverter, small gasoline generator, or any 100-240 VAC outlet powers the control box and submersible. The current running through the tether to the submersible is a comparatively safe 48 VDC, rather than the possibly lethal 360-plus VDC used by other ROVs. This makes it safe for divers to handle the submersible in the water, and for kids to swim with it in a pool.

REACH

Standard tether lengths vary by model, but additional neutral, negative, and positively buoyant tethers can be added to extend the overall reach of the VideoRay up to 1,100 feet. Tethers are available in a variety of lengths to meet the needs of particular water conditions or projects.