REVEL
Introduction to ROPOS

ROPOS: Remotely Operated Platform for Ocean Science

Interface with the R/V Thompson | ROPOS 1996 REVEL Dive Summaries

ROPOS is a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that is managed by a not-for-profit corporation formed by Canadian marine scientists. The vehicle was constructed for scientific use by International Submarine Engineering (ISE) of Vancouver, British Columbia. It is based on a utility ROV design that ISE has used in the construction of over 100 underwater vehicles, mainly for industrial use in the offshore oil and subsea pipeline and cable industries. ROPOS is about the size of a small car. It is launched from a mother ship in a large cage or garage. When the cage approaches the seafloor, the winch on the ship is stopped and ROPOS swims out of the cage to complete the trip to the bottom. ROPOS is connected to the cage by a neutrally buoyant tether. The cage serves to isolate ROPOS from the movement of the ship as it bobs up and down in the ocean swell.

ROPOS can work to depths of 5000 meters and spend hours or even days working continuously on the bottom. While no one actually descends to the ocean depths in ROPOS, an electric "telepresence" is created in the control room where scientists and pilots sit surrounded by video monitors relaying images and data from the seafloor. The whole room is literally plugged into the bottom of the ocean and everyone on the ship can participate in the dive. The ship transmits power and computer commands down an electrical-optical cable to the vehicle on the bottom. ROPOS in turn sends up data and video images via six optical fibers that are at the core of the cable.

A group of six pilot-technicians operate and maintain ROPOS while at sea. Each dive is carefully planned by the scientific party and a scientist usually sits in the "hot seat" next to the pilots to direct operations on the bottom. Two robotic manipulator arms on the vehicle are used to place instruments and collects samples on the seafloor. Specialized sample containers are used to bring back delicate organisms and geological specimens to the surface. During each dive ROPOS is guided along the ocean bottom by an acoustic navigation system that triangulates on acoustic beacons that the ROPOS team places on the bottom at the beginning of the dive program. The mother ship must hold station during the dive to avoid disturbing operations by tugging on the cable that links it to ROPOS. This "station keeping" is aided by a computer display that is created by a direct link to Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. The precise navigation system allows ROPOS to survey and map unexplored areas of the seafloor. Mapping is further aided by a sophisticated color imaging sonar on the vehicle that can see objects and geological structures up to a distance of 100 meters. This is well beyond the range of the video cameras that even with powerful spotlights can only see four to five meters ahead.

For further information on ROPOS, contact the Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility c/o Dr. Kim Juniper.