Hi from Australia

[Tal]

Hey Everyone,

I stumbled across this forum while trying to find answers to the millions of questions I had when gathering info about building my very own ROV! I'm embarrassed to admit that I thought I'd be on my own with this project and that no-one would have ever tried something as crazy. Clearly, I was very wrong I have no prior knowledge in this field so it was a relief.

Since this revelation, I've discovered Arduino Mega. I've programmed and successfully tested 3 thrusters (2 brushed, 1 brushless motor) with a ps2 controller (must thank Bill Porter and KR2! for pointing me in the right direction). I've also got a thermistor giving me temperature but am still wondering what other data might be useful. I have 2 sheets of alluminium ready to go, some PVC pipe, a nice colour 'reversing' camera (RCA plugs) for a car (12v), and a few 12v lead acid batteries that I thought could offer power from the surface.

I also discovered another million ROV questions that weren't apparent at the start of the project

I've always found projects are easier to complete if you have a defined mission. There is a local story that a mining company, near where I live, were drilling in a quarry near the ocean when they hit an underground water body (excuse the description, I'm not a geologist ) which promptly filled the quarry with sea water. I've been able to confirm the story but local rumour speculates on the depth of the pools, and that it filled so quickly that there is actually a crane down there somewhere.

So my mission is to discover the depth, and to confirm whether or not the crane exists. I'd like to record the video from the ROV. I know there would be easier ways of doing this (without an ROV) but its the ROV's mission (so it has a specific purpose) and not the other way around (how do I achieve this mission; use a fish finder for depth, and drop a camera down on a tether without the ROV).

I also appreciate (like you all do with your own projects) that I'd be best to achieve this in small steps with upgrades along the way, once I've got proof of concept. After all, I have so much to learn.

Anyway, this was meant to be an introduction so thank you all for accepting me into your world and I look forward to reading about your projects and adventures.

I'll post my project progress, with pics, in the appropriate section when i get the chance.

Tal (I'm also Steve but Tal will do just fine )

[scubersteve]

It's like we're collecting Steve's on here!
Welcome Tal!
That sounds like a cool mission objective for your rov project.
What kind of mine was it?

[Tal]

Hey ScubaSteve,

Since it's a R.O.steVe. forum, I used to get, "Thanks for the boost, Steven", an overused quote from Cable Guy....but onto other matters

After checking my facts before answering your question, I discovered they aren't actually salt water after all, but fresh. In fact, here's a quote.

'The fresh water pools are the result of the quarrying of rock for the river breakwalls in the 1890s. The pools were created when a spring was disturbed during excavations. The large, deep areas that had been dug out filled with water.'

It was further described as 'very deep'. I wouldn't hazard a guess as to how deep 'very deep' is but thats what I hope to find out. I'm also intrigued as to whether the crane is circa 1890's or something that fell in at a later time. I'm starting to doubt the claims already but its part 2 of the mission so we'll find out when we go down

But I still have a long way to go......

[scubersteve]

Still, it's a very cool mission.