ROV PHOCA
The ROV PHOCA is an electric, unmanned, scientific diving robot ( ROV ) of the COMANCHE type. It belongs to the Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR) and was built by sub-Atlantic in Aberdeen, Scotland. The ROV PHOCA is significantly lighter and smaller than the ROV KIEL 6000, for example, and is only designed for diving depths of around 3000 m. It can be used by smaller research vessels and thus ideally complements the ROV Kiel 6000. The steel-reinforced fiber optic supply cable is identical to that of the ROV Kiel 6000, which makes it possible to operate both via the so-called deep sea winch (6500 m cable length), the smaller midwater winch (2700 m cable length) and the floating cable winch (500 m cable length).
The ROV PHOCA was procured as part of the BMBF project MoLab.
properties
ROV PHOCA, similar to ROV KIEL 6000, is characterized by the following properties:
- two manipulators enable different sampling procedures
- pan-tilt digital video cameras are used as working cameras as well as for mapping the seabed
- it has the following auto functions: depth, course, height above ground
- the digital telemetry SubCanTM enables real-time data transmission
- up to 100 kg load allow the use of various additional scientific devices
- the ROV PHOCA is used in the so-called "live boating mode", i. H. it is directly connected to the respective ship via a steel-armored fiber optic cable
Technical specifications
| Vehicle type: | Comanche 21, electric "Workclass" ROV (sub-Atlantic) |
| Depth of use: | up to 3000 m |
| Dimensions: | Length: 2.1 m, width: 1.3 m, height: 1.35 m |
| Weight: | in air: approx. 1500 kg in water: weight-neutral |
| Drive: | 7 electric brushless DC propellers SPE-250 |
| Speed: | maximum 2.5 knots (forward / backward) |
| Station Keep (dP): | ± 0.5 m |
| Auto Heading: | ± 5 ° |
| Electrical supply voltage: | 3000 VAC / 400 Hz |
| Rated power supply: | 70 A to 400 V |
| Deep sea cable: | 2700 m @ 19 mm, 1.3 t / km in air = 3.5 t, 1 t / km in water = 2.7 t in max. Water depth; 3 high voltage conductors @ 4 mm²; 3 FO (single mode) |
| Digital telemetry: | SubCanTM |
| Knowledge Payload: | up to 100 kg |
| Hydraulics: | Pump 15 kW with 39 lpm @ 207 bar to drive two manipulators. Additional devices can be connected via valve fittings |
| Transport of the entire system: | in 2 1/2 20 ' ISO containers . The total weight is approx. 30 t. |
commitment
ROV PHOCA is used in multi-disciplinary scientific projects (e.g. the ocean of the future ) and for the installation and maintenance of the long-term observatory MoLab.
