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Exploring an ancient city at the bottom of Fuxian Lake - September 18, 2006

VideoRay plays key role in investigation of lost underwater city in China – Explorer model works with underwater archeologists provides video for China Central Television network broadcast.

A VideoRay Explorer owned by VideoRay’s Chinese dealer Beijing Ocean Seeker Technical Co. Ltd played a key role in exploring an ancient city at the bottom of Fuxian Lake in southwest China’s Yunnan Province. The week long mission, organized by China Central Television and the Yuxi municipal government, recovered artifacts and explored with both divers and the VideoRay. Most days, VideoRay was an important source of light for divers and relics as it fed live video to journalists and researchers on the boat, in addition to diver-held cameras. On the fifth day, the VideoRay ventured alone at a depth exceeding 30 meters – too deep for the divers on this mission. It found and sent images of important artifacts that would otherwise have been undiscovered.

“This is a preliminary exploration, not a detailed archeological study. We are planning to do more detailed studies in the future. The small, portable and powerful VideoRay ROV has played an important role in this exploration and would be more important in our future work” said Professor Li Kunsheng, Director of Archeology & Culture Research Institute, Yunnan University.

See links below for more information on this fascinating story.

Complete Program [CHINESE]
Mission Overview [ENGLISH] [CHINESE]

Chinese
http://tech.sina.com.cn/d/2006-06-19/0848995778.shtml
http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2006-06/18/content_313871.htm
http://travel.people.com.cn/GB/41636/41642/4511338.html

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.