DIY underwater ROV for $100

Considering the average Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) can run anywhere from $8,000 into the millions, this dude's $100 DIY underwater ROV is pretty impressive. Made in two weeks, there is one significant compromise in the absence of thrusters — it's a towed vehicle — but whaddya want for a Benjamin? It's made largely of PVC pipe and comes equipped with a black and white camera and secondary color camera, IR illumination for night vision, and 100 foot tether for providing power and sending video back to the surface for monitoring and recording in real-time.

[Topmounter @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

I would definately have to get a bigger bath tub to use this thing.

Pretty neat project regardless.

[Google Nazi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Now you know where to go if your science teacher tells you to build one of these as a school project. Of course you could always comprimize and make one out of cardboard and a tied down school of fish.

[Lectiod @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Jeez, looks like at least half the cost is in zip-ties.

[Lester Jones @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

i wonder how much trusters would add to the price...

[Kevin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

It will not work. If you need to tow it, it would need some kind of balenced stablizer to keep it from spinning. Then you would need to do some serious joystick work even at a small 5 to 10 knots speed. How about some video examples? (Do not send your LITTLE MERMAID clips either!!).

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

If you excuse me, I'm off to look for Jimmy Hoffa.

[Rombus @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Ummm can you really consider this a ROV? I mean, to be a remotely operated vehicle, there has to be something to operate...remotely. Don�t get me wrong, its a cool project, but to me, all it seems like is a tow behind camera rig.

[lupinstel @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Ah yes, zip ties. The duct tape of the future.

[az1324 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Glo-Stick... NICE!!

[JavaDog @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Well, considering we did not have any more money (or time!) the thrusters did not make the cut. We looked at about a doezen different ideas...but nothing we could get together quick enough.

[Rombus @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

You have any plans to improve on it? maybe hack apart one of those RC Subs to get atleast some control over it :D

[Andy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

"Made in two weeks, there is one significant compromise in the absence of thrusters "

... which definitely does not make this thing anywhere near an ROV (as #6 already stated).

Why don't we just call this what it is - a semi-elaborate underwater camera enclosure.

This is like putting a box out on a road that four people can sit in and then calling it a car.

Don't get me wrong, this is kinda cool (not really impressive, but cool), but it ain't anything NEAR an ROV.

[JavaDog @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Rombus - Yes, we are working on a version two which will have custom made thrusters; a high-resolution color camera system; and lights.

We will be increasing the tether length to either 250ft or 500ft. The new model will be made of aluminum and acrylic and be capable of at least 200ft of depth (or more, we will be testing the new one in a flooded quarry - and possibly Lake Erie).

[JavaDog @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Andy - True. That is why we called it a tROV. Towed Remote Observation Vehicle.

Cute, eh?

[ernie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Ah dear Harbor Freight, there would be no <$100 ROV without you or ebay!

[Calvinclone @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

This guys did something similar sometime ago.
http://robots.engadget.com/entry/1234000990038094/

[Robin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

I know this is the place where I'm supposed to hone my skills at biting sarcasm (and believe me, most of the time it's easy!) but I really like this little thing! #1, I'm not sure you WOULD need a bigger bathtub, it only looks about 14" high...but that really makes it even cooler; you don't need to hire the Calypso to take it out, you can just throw it off the back of your john boat and tow it through the weeds looking for that big muskie that got away last weekend or the contents of your pockets that fell out when you got drunk and dove off the party boat! Since the overhead to run the thing is virtually nill, you could rent it out looking for things people lost when they got drunk and dove off the party boat and make a penny while you were fine tuning it. I doubt it will ever find the wreck of the Hesparis, but I think it has a lot of potential.

[Andy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Hahah... well then we're agreed, 12.

I congratulate you on a cool project.

[Woolly Mittens @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

I suppose you operate it remotely by yanking the cable. =D.

How about making a solid perspex ball with a batery operated camera? That way you could go WAY deeper.

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 1:24AM]

Maybe it's because most gadgets come with remote controls, but from reading the previous comments, I'd like to make a precision on what the REMOTE part of Remote Observation Vehicule stands for.

In this case remote stands for "remote location".

So even if this thing does not have thrusters, the fact that it allows you too look at areas that are a 100 does earn it the "remote" qualifier.

Cool project.