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VideoRay Called on to Assist with Search in Aruba - July 14, 2005

VideoRay ROV used to assist searchers of 18-year old girl – VideoRay was called to Aruba and put into action to assist in the search for Natalee Holloway a missing 18-year old from Alabama.

Late last week VideoRay received a call from the Florida State University (FSU), Underwater Crime Scene Investigation (UCSI) Department regarding the search in Aruba.

The FSU UCSI team was called to search and document underwater targets that the Texas EquuSearch team had identified during their land search for the missing teen in Aruba.

Texas EquuSearch, a Texas-based search and rescue team has brought in more than 70 people throughout the search. VideoRay and FSU UCSI were brought in last week along with other high-tech underwater monitoring and detection equipment to extend the search underwater.

Over a four-day period (July 8th through July 12th) VideoRay and divers were used to search and a cave, bridge structure and a sand quarry.
VideoRay cleared the identified targets to provide a high degree of certainty that Natelee was not in those areas.

Natalee Holloway vanished in the early hours of May 30. Investigators have said she left a club with a Dutch youth. Investigators and Search teams continue to search for the missing teenager.

Related Articles:

Florida Times-Union story

CBS Channel 3 news coverage

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.