Micro-ROV instrumental customization and canister design under pressure

Remotely Operated Vehicles are very useful tools for submarine exploration. We have customized a Micro-Class ROV for shallow marine geophysical and geochemical research. Due to our specific requirements, micro-ROV frame, fairing and pressure canisters must be of lightweight, resistant and non-magnetic material. Based on its mechanical and optical properties, for the realization of the micro-ROV pressure canister, the PMMA was chosen. By means of FEM analysis, we have investigated four pressure canister geometries under different external pressures. We have showed that the maximum depths that should be considered in a possible micro-ROV customization are that obtained with Von Mises yield stress criterion. By means of FEM analysis we have identified a linear relationship both between stress and water depth and strain and water depth.