Dive into the world of ROVs

The surface of our beloved planet is covered with 70% of water, yet most of our oceans remain unexplored. Throughout history mankind has spoken many tall tales of Mythical creatures, hiding in the mysterious depths of our vast seas. Megalodons and Krakens might not be extinct, but they might be hidden in unknown depths. Remotely operated vehicles play a very crucial role in the exploration of these uncharted waters. These submersible pieces of technology enable us to unravel the depths without risks to human life. The ROVs are pieced together using numerous sensors, high-definition cameras, robotic arms, and much more. These state-of-the-art equipment allow seamless observation of marine life, monitoring of underwater environments, collecting data on various species, and also conducting underwater archaeology. 

These mythical creatures were calling upon me to discover them, so I decided to dive into the world of ROVs and build a prototype myself. The moment I accepted this mission, I knew I had to make my ROV fully 3D printed. I started researching the components and specifications required to start preparing the design of my ROV. I targeted the ballast system, the propulsion system, and the overall circuit one after the other. After finalizing all the components required for each of the systems, I sketched the design of my ROV in Fusion 360.

The next thing I focused on was getting my design 3D printed. 3D printing may look cool from the outside but requires several specifications to print even a tiny object. I had to compare different printable materials to get enough strength to withstand the water pressure while maintaining their waterproofing ability. I ended up finalizing the use of PETG for my print. The biggest problem was getting my ROV printed without defects. It took me 1 week of trial and error to get the printer settings perfect for printing my ROV.

                                                      

After printing the main body, I assembled the ballast and propulsion systems within the main body. The final code and circuit were also finalized and integrated into my ROV. It took me a week more to externally waterproof my ROV. Finally, after months of blood and sweat, my ROV was ready and fully functional. The ROV has been tested multiple times underwater and the results of those helped me understand how I can improve my ROV. 

     

This project has been very inspirational for me. The failures I encountered, and the success I achieved, all of them have inspired me not just as an engineer, but as an individual as well.

 Stay tuned to discover how to build your ROV.