Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is a tethered underwater robot. Common in deepwater industries such as the offshore Oil & Gas Industry.
ROVs are unoccupied, highly maneuverable and operated by personnel aboard a vessel. They are linked to the ship by a tether (sometimes referred to as an umbilical cable), a group of cables that carry electrical power, video and data signals back and forth between the operator and the vehicle. Most ROVs are equipped with at least a video camera and lights. Additional equipment is commonly added to expand the vehicle’s capabilities. These may include sonars, magnetometers, a still camera, a manipulator or cutting arm, water samplers, and instruments that measure water clarity, light penetration and temperature.
