This lesson introduces you to the VideoRay Mission Specialist Pro 5 system providing basic information about the vehicle and topside components. Additional lessons will present an overview of the software and operational activities from set up and basic controls through strategies and tactics for complex and demanding missions.

The VideoRay Pro 5 an extremely powerful and capable ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) that uses an umbilical tether and is operated from the surface. Its light weight and small footprint make it ideal for use on jobs where portability and small size are important. It supports a number of sensors and tools enabling it to perform a wide variety of underwater tasks and missions. The control software is state-of-the-art and easy to use.

The base Pro 5 vehicle includes a high definition camera, high intensity LED lights, and an AHRS module that provides information about the ROV’s attitude, including the heading, depth, pitch and roll. It uses 2 thrusters for horizontal movements and 1 thruster for vertical motion. Additional vehicle accessories are available and will be described later.

The OCC (Operator Control Console) includes a built in computer and a 19” high definition display, topside Ethernet and USB ports, and the ROV power and communications interfaces. Missions can be recorded on the computer's hard drive and distributed by using a flash drive or over the Internet. An external power source is required, but the system can also be powered by a generator or batteries.

The control software is provided by Greensea Systems, a world leader in autonomous vehicle control software. The intuitive software makes it easy for novice pilots to navigate the vehicle to where it needs to be and reduces sensory and task overload for all pilots. Additional lessons will describe the software and its features and capabilities in more detail.

The VideoRay Pro 5 can be operated manually with VideoRay’s IP65 hand controller. The hand controller allows the operator to navigate the vehicle and control various functions like tilting the camera or changing the light intensity. Additional controller styles can be configured to work with the system.

As mentioned, the vehicle is tethered to the surface using an umbilical cable. The umbilical can be used in a manner similar to extension cords. Each umbilical has a male connector and a female connector and you can connect multiple tethers together. This capability makes it easy to optimally configure the equipment for shallow or deep dives. Mission Specialist vehicles can use standard copper umbilical or for long deployment lengths, hybrid fiber umbilical is available.

While the VideoRay Pro 5 is a powerful and nimble ROV, sensors and tools turn it into a workhorse, capable of operating effectively in murky water and performing search and recoveries, inspections and various other manipulation tasks. Accessories are optional, but the Pro 5 can be equipped with accessories installed and configured when purchased.

The TDS (Tether Deployment System) makes it easier to manage longer tether lengths.

The Blueprint Subsea Oculus M750d and M1200d are dual frequency multibeam sonars that can be used for navigation and identification. Each sonar includes a low frequency for longer range and a higher frequency for better resolution and image quality.

The Blueprint Lab Rotating Manipulator jaws can be rotated a full 360 degrees. It is equipped with the overlapping "V" jaw, but additional end effectors are available.

The Blueprint Subsea Seatrac USBL, or Ultra Short Baseline System, is an acoustic position tracking device. The operating principle uses a topside transducer beacon at a known location and a vehicle transducer beacon that responds to “pings” from the topside. The system interprets the phase shift of the returning “ping” within the sensor head and calculates the position of the ROV.

Some important Pro 5 specifications to be aware of include the vehicle depth rating of up to 1 km (or 3,280 ft). The standard float block (yellow top cover) is only rated to 400 m (or 1,300 ft), but a deeper rated float block is available. Most accessories are rated to 300 m (or 1,000 ft), but some accessories can be ordered with a deeper rating.

The Pro 5 system requires an external power source and uses a universal power supply input of 100-240 V AC, 50,60 Hz. Power can be supplied by a land based grid, generator or batteries.

The Pro 5 vehicle weighs 10 kg (or 22 pounds). It has a forward speed of 4.4 Knots and Bollard Pull of 20.3 kg (or 44.7 pounds) (over 2 times the vehicle weight.