A quick guide to Underwater ROVs. In this guide, you will learn what ROVs are used for, different types of ROVs and what are ROVs composed of.
ROV, stands for Remotely Operated Vehicle and most often refers to an Underwater ROV Vehicle. Underwater ROVs, also known as underwater drones, represent a crucial branch of the broader unmanned vehicle ecosystem that spans air, land, and sea. These intelligent submersibles can be equipped with cameras, tools, and sensors to perform a wide range of underwater operations—including visual inspection, sampling, and complex task execution—through remote control or autonomous navigation. Built on the same architecture and control systems as aerial drones, they are fully compatible with the MAVLink communication protocol.
Compared to traditional ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) and AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles), modern underwater rovs are lightweight, portable, cost-effective, highly reliable, and user-friendly. These advantages make them ideal for applications such as underwater search and rescue, inspection of underwater infrastructure, pipeline and cable monitoring, and aquaculture. In recent years, they have also begun to replace heavy-duty equipment in subsea defense, offshore wind energy, oil and gas exploration, and oceanographic research.
As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, technologies such as image recognition, object tracking, path planning, route optimization, drone swarming, and data mining are reaching new levels of maturity. Seamless coordination between aerial, land-based, and underwater robots is becoming the norm. The upgrade toward intelligent systems is redefining workflows in defense, emergency response, surveying, and urban management. With highly customizable control systems, drones—both aerial and underwater—are becoming indispensable tools for professionals across various industries.
What are ROVs composed of
An underwater ROV system typically comprises the five major components below: the topside control console, the submersible, the communication and power system, auxiliary tools and sensors, and user-defined modules.
1. Topside Control Console
The topside control console serves as the command center for the underwater rov. It handles communications, live video feed display, and data storage. Essentially, it’s a computer sending controlling commands to the submersible. For general ROV operators, it functions as a remote controller. For developers and advanced users, it provides capabilities for programming and system customization.
2. The Submersible
The submersible includes thrusters, an electronics pod (with gimbal camera), LED lights, battery pod, buoyancy blocks (yellow part), and a shock resistant frame. While standard configurations meet most operational needs, the system can be customized or upgraded. For example, more powerful thrusters for bigger payloads, larger battery packs for extended missions and additional cameras or sensors.
3. Communication and Power
For Li-ion battery-powered underwater ROVs, a neutral buoyant tether facilitates data communication between the topside and the submersibles. Typical cable lengths include 100m, 200m, and 300m. Longer-range operations may require custom communication setups.
For surface-powered systems (220VAC), the same tether cable provides both power and communication. This configuration supports longer endurance. However, as power requirements increase, cable diameter and spool size must increase accordingly.
4. Auxiliary Tools and Sensors
Underwater ROVs can be enhanced with various tools and sensors such as: manipulating arms, sampling devices, cleaning brushes, sonar systems, water quality sensors.
These add-ons significantly expand the ROV’s capabilities below the surface, making it a versatile tool for complex underwater tasks.
5. User-Defined Modules
To meet unique project requirements, the underwater ROV can be equipped with customer-specified modules. Custom mechanical interfaces, communication ports, and power supplies are available to support specialized applications and unlock new underwater possibilities.
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