Homebuilt ROVs Forum

I've decided to finally stop browsing this forum dreaming about building an ROV and instead to actually start designing the thing. I've finally managed to wrangle a very simple design out of SketchUp so that I can visualize problems and solutions. I've decided to post the pictures of my design here as there is a wealth of knowledge from you guys who have been doing this for years and I'm sure there are many flaws in my design.

The ROV will steer left using TR1 and TL2 and right using TL1 and TR2. It will strafe using the side thrusters and will hopefully be slightly buoyancy positive.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Cabbage

I had wondered why the forum was so quiet - I'm glad that you've started your design and am looking forward to seeing how it progresses.

Looks like some rational thought has gone into your design. Look forward to seeing your progress.

I totally started from scratch all over again because I kept finding better ways to solve problems and because of new HD video advances.

I have an 6 1/2 inch OD (16 1/2 cm) diameter schedule 80 PVC hull (24 inch long, 65 cm) from my old design if anyone is interested. One end is polished to be able to seat O rings for a camera window. The ID is 5 1/2 inches (14 cm) and the wall is 1/2 inch thick (12mm).

I admire your skills in 3d graphics.

You should replace the LED. In this position it will cause glare in your dome.
Maybe a bit more to the front or better two lights, one on each side. As far away from the dome as possible.

You are on a good way. Can´t wait to see some pictures of your build!

Thanks for all of your positive replies and comments. In response to your suggestion ArduRov, I've moved the upper hull forwards so that it is almost infront of the dome, which should stop there being glare in the dome from the LED. I now need to find some PVC pipe that doesn't cost a small fortune!

What are your approximate dimensions? Length, hull thickness, etc. How deep to you hope to go?

100 metres is a target I'd like to be able to reach, but really anything from 20 metres downwards would make me very happy indeed. I'm planning on using 100mm PVC pipe which has a thickness of around 4mm. Not sure about the length, but I envisage it being around 75mm long and maybe 20mm wide.

I'm confused on the dimensions. Seems like a many thrusters for a small unit. How is the thruster and light power being supplied?

Having just re-read what I wrote, I realise that everything is out by a factor of 10. It's going to be around 750mm long and 200mm wide! This means that I can actually have batteries on the ROV itself.

I have a PVC schedule 80 section of pipe for anyone who is willing to pay shipping UPS ground. It is 168 mm OD (6 1/2 inches), 600 mm long (2 feet), and has wall thickness of 12 mm (1/2 inch). One end is polished to accommodate O ring seals for a camera window. Should be able to handle some decent depth. This stuff was originally intended for use in water well casings. I also have some scrap transparent 25 mm thick (1 inch) polycarbonate that still has it’s protective paper covering that I could throw in the box.

This was my original ROV project but I am now downsizing to 2 twin 500 mm (2 inch) PVC pressure vessels to hold twin Mobius HD cameras for close up 3D video. About halfway done. Still working on Buoyancy control, robot arm, and drive motor pods.