[QUOTE=bigmoose;37186]Alf, I’ve wondered since watching the ROV vids; when the pilot is hands off the stick, are they gyro stabilized in roll, pitch and yaw when not clamped onto a hardpoint?
On another ROV point I’ve talked to a friend who is involved in surgical robotics; and he talks of how the surgeons arm and hand is “mirrored” with sensors onto the tele surgery arm. Surgeon moves his wrist, the robot writs moves in unison. Now I can see how this type of control would be great for ROV dexterous events, like removing a nut; then cut back to joystick for a hold this dispersant hose for an hour type operation. Any insight into their control systems? Joystick only?[/QUOTE]
I haven’t seen gyro’s as a standard on the ROV’s I’ve worked with, but I’m sure it could be done as a retrofit. Usually ROV’s lock onto a heading and set thrusters, then re-adjust as req for drifting.
I’ve never seen a “mirrored hand” used. Normal ROV ops don’t require such fine dexterity. The end of the arm has a jaw with 360 deg rotation, the arm being essentialy for grab/turn/twist/push/pull type ops.
The ROV’s on the ROV support vessels generally have better capabiliities than a rig ROV. But I have never been on one of these vessels so I can’t really comment there.
Try looking at the Oceaneering website to give you a better idea of these beasts capabilities.