Miniaturized submersible for exploration of small aqueous environments

Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are commonly used for sub-surface exploration. However, multi-functional ROVs tend to be fairly large, while preferred small and compact ROVs suffer from limited functionality. The Deeper Access, Deeper Understanding (DADU) project aims to develop a small submersible concept using miniaturization technologies to enable a high functionality. An operator is able to maneuver the vehicle with five degrees of freedom using eight small thrusters, while a set of accelerometers and gyros monitor the orientation of the submersible. A single fiber optic cable will connect the submersible to a control station and enable simultaneous data and command transfers. Rechargeable battery packs provide power to the submersibles subsystems during operation. These will be rechargeable through the fiber connection. A forward looking camera is aided by a laser topography measurement system, where distances, sizes and shapes of objects in view can be determined to within 0.5 cm. For murkier environments, or when a more extensive mapping of the surroundings is needed, the small high-frequency side-scanning sonar can be used. Salinity calculations of the water will be available through measurements of the conductivity, temperature and depth. Samples of water and particles within it will be enabled through a water sampler with an enriching capability. Flow sensors will be able to measure the water movement around the submersible's hull. The submersible and its subsystems are under continuous development. The vehicle itself, and its subsystems as stand-alone instruments, will enable the exploration of previously unreachable submerged environments, such as the sub-glacial lakes found in Iceland and Antarctica, or other submerged small environments, such as pipe and cave systems.