BE-ROVER Benthic Environment-ROV Extensible Robotrmingar System)

There is currently no low-cost, high performance minimally invasive, bottom-crawling ROV system for monitoring coastal and littoral benthic environments which is also deployable by a single marine researcher. Such a system augmenting divers’ observations would greatly expand the quantity and quality of data critical to managing coastal environments and preserving the economic benefits derived by their local communities. In 2014, Robo Nautica used its innovative system of low-cost high-performance underwater robotics components (US Patent 9315248) to build a working proof-of-concept prototype bottom-crawling robot which exceeded minimum requirements, and successfully demonstrated it at the NOAA Gray’s Reef NMS. In Phase I, that robot was used for empirical testing of improved components and configurations, identified by trade studies, which minimized deployment size and weight while extending the depth and duration of operation, radio range for piloting, and the variety of cameras it supports. In Phase II, based upon those test results, we will develop an improved bottom-crawling robot, with greater reliability, increased use of COTS components, and industry standard practices. It will be near ready for commercialization. We will make it available for extended testing by NOAA personnel.