After few weeks of research, now comes the time of ordering ( got a very happy banker now..
) and assembling the ROV. It is also time to start a thread about the ROV project, we're running with a friend. No name yet, but it will come... 
From all the research I've done so far, the design I took inspiration from is this one: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-ROV/ . We're not planning to build the exact same ROV, much more using this design as guideline for ours.
Here are the specifications we're aiming to. I'm well aware, it is not the easiest path, therefore some of the features we're planning might not get implemented in the earlier stages but will be added as the project moves on. We try, as much as possible, to have an "easily" upgradable design which will not involve re-designing the whole system for the future.
The ROV will run on 12V, powered from the surface, we'll use 24V dc power supply which will be converted at 12V using linear converters.
It will be driven by 2 arduinos (Surface and onboard) tethered via serial (Tx and Rx).
I choose to use an arduino to drive and communicate with the ROV as I want to avoid as much as possible carrying a laptop with me when operating the ROV (it's going to be possible to connect one to the box via USB anyway as to get a more detailed datas via a GUI for instance).
Here's the Wiring for the Control Box:
Wiring_Control_Box.pdf- (27.15 KiB) Downloaded 780 times
The 2 video outputs:
There's going to be a screen for the pilot on the box, which will have datas from the sensors displayed.
the second video output will get the videos without the OSD on it.
The ROV itself:
- 5 Thrusters (2 for Forward, Back and turning, 2 for skidding and 1 to go up and down), we're going to use bilge pump motors and magnetic coupling for the propellers. For the magnetic coupling. For the magnetic coupling, we're following this tutorial: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1660192 (thanks a lot Antony for sharing this). I'm going to use those H bridges to control the motors: http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/755
- for the sensors:
1) the IMU: ArduIMU V3: https://code.google.com/p/ardu-imu/ for the time being, I'll only collect the datas Roll, Pitch and Bearing to be displayed on the control box LCD screen and on the video OSD as well), later on we would like to implement stabilisation and Hold position options.
2) Depth sensor: http://www.amsys.info/products/ms5535.htm
3) Temperature: http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm35.pdf
The OSD: https://code.google.com/p/arducam-osd/w ... m_osd?tm=6 which will collect datas from the Arduino (IMU and Depth) and overlay them on one of the video feed for the operator.
The flood light are made with: http://www.led-tech.de/de/High-Power-LE ... 0_138.html
Here's the wiring for the ROV electronics:
- ROV electronics.pdf
- (22.12 KiB) Downloaded 677 times
Have a great day
Wanderer
