Advancements in Greensea Systems’ Untethered ROV Technology

With continuous advancements in marine exploration technology, the autonomous operation of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) has become a focal point. Since 2023, Greensea Systems' untethered ROVs have undergone multiple sea trials in subsea explosive ordnance monitoring and hull cleaning. Currently, these systems have been commercialized and are being applied in collaboration with several marine technology companies. This article provides an overview of the latest developments in this technology and its potential applications.

Traditional ROVs rely on tethers for data transmission and power supply, which not only limit their operational range but also increase operational complexity and costs. The development of untethered ROVs aims to address these issues by leveraging wireless communication and autonomous operation to enhance efficiency and flexibility.

Greensea Systems' latest untethered ROV series is the "VideoRay Defender", which is equipped with a battery, an acoustic modem, and the "OPENSEA Edge" system. This system integrates extensive processing capabilities, allowing sensor data to be processed directly on the ROV, thereby reducing dependence on topside computing.

During testing in April 2023, the untethered ROV demonstrated autonomous operation in a simulated explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) mission. The ROV successfully performed search, classification, mapping, and inspection tasks without a tether, while operators monitored its activities through a low-bandwidth, high-latency communication link.

(Source: Marine Technology News)

In June 2023, the "Bayonet 250" autonomous amphibious underwater vehicle (AUGV) underwent sea trials in a nearshore environment to locate buried munitions. Over an eight-day mission, the Bayonet 250 operated stably in sea conditions with waves up to six feet high, conducting four missions per day and covering an 18-square-kilometer area. Through rapid integration of sensor payloads, the system successfully detected and classified targets buried up to three meters deep in the seabed.
(Source: Greensea IQ)

In conclusion, untethered ROV technology represents a significant advancement in marine exploration. Despite technical challenges and uncertainties, its innovation and potential applications provide new directions for industry development. Key areas for future technological progress include communication stability, battery endurance, secure and reliable data transmission, and performance in complex marine environments.