Homebuilt ROVs Forum

Hello all!

After 8 months and lots of work here is my first ROV. It's mostly designed from scratch, made on a small budget from easily available materials (plumbing pipe, 3D printing etc). The first wet test was today, although due to software issues, I can't control the motors or video feed.

Key features:
- Wide mounted lights (on positionable folding arms) to reduce backscatter
- Custom made 3D printed kort nozzles
- Many 3D printed parts
- Front mounted electronics tube
- Plumbing pipe (JG Speedfit) frame
- Weights on a sliding bar system to balance it
- Mostly low tech and easy to build
- Electronics tube clips in place and can easily be removed

Any comments would be greatly appreciated

My set-up:

I'm using externally mounted brushless outrunner motors (2 vertical, 2 horizontal), 8 super-bright LEDs for lighting, Raspberry Pi based control system and the Pi dash cam for control (although there is easily room in the electronics tube for a GoPro).

Motors: http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbyking/st ... Motor.html
ESCs: http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbyking/st ... verse.html
LEDs: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... duct=17189
Servo driver: http://www.adafruit.com/products/815
Batteries: http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbyking/st ... _Pack.html

I use Robbe propellors
http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/aca ... llers.html

I'd be very happy to share my designs/CAD files/building instructions, if anyone is interested?

If you'd like to know more about any aspect of it, pleas ask!

Very nice! Do you have any pictures of the actual unit? I'd love to see them.

Looks nice in the rendering. I am curious how the arms work in shallow water and near plants. Do you have an picture of the real ROV?

Here you go! Sorry I've been trying to reduce the file size to fit the 750kb limit, so the quality might be a bit off.

As for the weeds - I'm not sure, I guess I'll find out! The arms certainly could get tangled rather easily, although they will swivel if pushed hard enough. They can be folded back against the body if needed, before launching.

Thank you

That is an awesome setup! I would be interested in the CAD / Build files. Especially for the lights, electronic connectors, and your control housing so basically the whole thing.