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VideoRay Underwater Robot Finds Wallet Lost 10 Years Ago - June 28, 2004

St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota finds wallet in 165 feet of water – Cash Still in Spend-able Condition After Decade in Lake Superior.

Claire O’Keefe was on a tour boat on Lake Superior when a gust of wind blew her purse into the water ten years ago. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she’d see it again. A few weeks ago, Claire received a call from Undersheriff Dave Phillips from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota. The Sheriff’s Rescue Squad had been using their VideoRay Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to assist the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in searching for a scuba diver that had been missing for four years. While conducting the search, the Rescue Squad came upon Claire’s wallet in 165 feet of water.

”We felt great about returning the wallet to Mrs. O’Keefe,” says Phillips. “To this day we are amazed that we finally have a piece of underwater equipment capable of locating and picking up items at these depths.” Philips, who used a VideoRay Pro equipped with a manipulator claw that can retrieve items up to 90 pounds underwater, considers the manipulator an essential for public safety applications.

“My reaction is still flabbergasted,” says O’Keefe, who resides in Seattle, WA. “I couldn’t believe they took the trouble to pick it up. I remember the incident distinctly as do my traveling companions but never in my wildest did I imagine it was still intact. It was so exciting – a one in a million thing to happen.”

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.