Homebuilt ROVs Forum

I am planning on making something similar to a Side Scan Sonar fish, I will be using 150mm (6") PVC pipe for my body with two end caps (one sealed and the other screw) to create a long tube shaped body.
The idea is to allow the camera to take a constant stream of photos whilst being towed by my kayak at approximately 4knots (6mph). The cameras shall be looking down to get a topographical view of the seabed which I shall then stitch together to create a map.

Because of the tube shape and because the cameras have to look down I can't cut a conventional piece of acrylic and place it over one of the openings like you would usually do. Please could you tell me whether or not the following has any chance of working:

-Cut the desired sized holes in the tube to create windows that shall allow the camera to look down.
-Use a strip of acrylic and heat it using a heat gun (or placing it in the oven on low) to make it flexible but not so hot it turns into a pool of molten plastic.
-Shape the acrylic around the pipe, once it has cooled glue it on with PVC cement.

Would something like this have any chance of surviving 10metres underwater (salt) reaching a pressure of approximately 14psi?

Why don't you use a T section and two short pieces of piping to match? This gives you a porthole pointing down. Great idea about the timelapse photography, I sure hope to see photos!

Thanks for the help, just located some PVC T-Sections... surprisingly cheaper than I first expected.

I agree with the t section. If I were to build this I would be tempted to put a lot of weight on it as well as make it gyroscopic.

Yes, a "clean-out" tee would have a low profile and thus reduce drag. I agree with ballast to achieve orientational bouyancy if not a homemade gyro.