Homebuilt ROVs Forum

Thrusters, I'm just using standard cartridge style, I have a Johnson there, 750gpm. The joystick was actually really simple. It has 8 connections but it breaks down really easy. 2 of them are wired together for a ground, 2 are wired together for power, the remaining 4 are the outputs which go to the Ardunio. Break those 4 into two groups and run 1 wire from each to the Ardunio for analog inputs. Use one digital output from Ardunio for each servo and that's it. I'll get a schematic uploaded shortly.

ChaseNoble wrote:I almost forgot what do you plan on using for thrusters ?

Thanks for the pics. some good ideas there.
Do you have 1 1/2" taps at work? or is that screw cut in the lathe?

I found a set of 1/2" to 3" pipe taps at work so they came in handy. Only thing I really used the lathe for was the hull dome recess. Only thing I have to figure out is making replaceable lights that are similar to the thrusters. The ones on this site are a good idea, Ill just use the same screw in method. I added a mockup of how the camera is going to sit inside the hull, plenty of room for vertical/horizontal movement.

bigbadbob wrote:Thanks for the pics. some good ideas there.
Do you have 1 1/2" taps at work? or is that screw cut in the lathe?

Looking good there.
are you sure you need lights?
From my days as an rov pilot i found a good low light camera means you dont need lights above about 50m/150ft.
Unless you're doing night dives or poking into holes then daylight is enough and lights just cause backscatter off the sediment unless they're well seperated from the camera.
My cctv camearas switch to black and white at low light levels and are meant for night surveilance of stores etc.

You are absoluty right but as the saying goes, better to have something and not need it vs needing and not having it. They will be on a solid state relay toggle for on and off or I'll figure out a dimming solution with a MOSFET or something. Thanks for the input.

bigbadbob wrote:Looking good there.
are you sure you need lights?
From my days as an rov pilot i found a good low light camera means you dont need lights above about 50m/150ft.
Unless you're doing night dives or poking into holes then daylight is enough and lights just cause backscatter off the sediment unless they're well seperated from the camera.
My cctv camearas switch to black and white at low light levels and are meant for night surveilance of stores etc.

How long and tall (with the foam) is your rov?

Well, bow to stern is 16" and top to bottom is 13 1/4". I never really had any size in mind, I just guesstimated the measurements from the real Videoray and cut main tube to 12". The Dome and end cap added a few inches. Here it is with the dilapidated float on top. It looks horrible so I'm going to have another chunk of foam professionally cut to match the actual Videoray close as possible.

At each end of inside the thruster/light tubes, I was going to have a quick disconnect electrical connection. The tubes will be fixed permanent to the hull, being dry inside. If a motor or light fails, I can just unscrew it and unplug the harness and plug the new one back in and screw it in and all is well. (In theory) Sounds plausible.

That's a smart idea, make sure you leak test it before you put any electronics in it first!
( I like the razer keyboard in the background)

Good eye lol. Well, I plan on getting everything bolted up with some paper towels stuffed inside and sending it down to 15 ft or so for a while and if that's a go, I'll find a 100 ft spot and dunk it again. I may put thread a air inflation valve in somewhere so I can pressurize it.

COOl! Can't wait to see it finished!