Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles
ROV is an underwater drone that has helped man explore ocean depths. They come in all sizes and shapes, helping us track underwater animals, monitor coral reef health, survey deep sea oil wells, underwater rescue operations, tourism and many more.
⚡ ROVs are underwater drones that are tethered to ships.
⚡ They have cameras, sensors, robotic arms, and other tools operated from the ship.
⚡ Dimitri Rebikoff invented the first ROV in 1953.
⚡ ROVs have a buoyancy pack made of foam that makes them move underwater withput tilting.
⚡ Floatation packs are placed on a chasis (or frame) made of Aluminium.
⚡ ROVs can stay underwater for more than 8 hours.
⚡ In 2020, ROVs reached the bottom of the Marian Trench which is the deepest point on Earth.
⚡ Manipulator arms are robotic arms in ROV to cut, grab, retrieve material, etc.
⚡ ROVs used in oil and gas industry can turn control valves in underwater oil pipelines.
⚡ Rov sizes range from small computers to trucks and ROV cost range from thousands to millions of dollars.
Hydrofoils - flying boats
Trains can fly in Harry Potter stories. But did you know that boats can fly ? Read about wings that make boats fly.
⚡ Hydrofoils are flying boats.
⚡ They have underwater wings, also called hydrofoils
⚡ Hydrofoil wings are narrow plates with curved top and flat bottom.
⚡ Water passes smoothly under the bottom, but needs force to climb up the curved top.
⚡ As more water passes through the flat bottom, water pressure increases under the hydrofoil.
⚡ High pressure pushes up the boat, above the water.
⚡ When the boat's hull raises above the water, there is less friction on the moving boat.
⚡ Hydrofoil boats can travel at very high speeds because of low friction (or drag force).
⚡ Fastest speed recorded by a hydrofoil boat is 126 kmph (68.33kn) by the Vestas Sailrocket 2.
⚡ Latest hydrofoil boats are powered by a hydrofoil below and flying kite (replacing a sail).
How hovercrafts work
Hovercrafts are vehicles that can travel on land, water, snow, and sand. Read how this vehicle moves on different land types and how it works.
⚡ Hovercrafts are ambphibious vehicles.
⚡ Hovercrafts can cruise over a lake, travel over the shore and land right at the doorstep.
⚡ Hovercrafts float (hover) over the surface. They move without touching land or water.
⚡ Hovercrafts have bottom blowers that blow high pressure air under the craft.
⚡ Rubber skirts around the vehicle trap air inside. High pressure air lifts up the vehicle.
⚡ Engines and fams move the craft forward as it hovers.
⚡ Hovercrafts cannot go uphill. They cannot travel on slopes.
⚡ When oil spillage occures in deep sea oil wells, hovercrafts fly over the spills and help with quick response.
⚡ Hovercrafts are used by militaries to transport people and cargo.
