1.0 SU^4MARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS 



Four types of ROVs have been identified: tethered, free- swimming vehicles, 

 bottom- crawling vehicles, towed vehicles and untethered vehicles. The growth 

 of these vehicles - particularly tethered, free-swimming vehicles of the CURV 

 variety - has been impressive. The first of this class vehicle was launched 

 in 1953, and by 1974 only 19 additional vehicles were constructed. At the 

 end of 1979 it is projected that a total of approximately 139 tethered, free- 

 swimming vehicles will have been constructed. Over 90 percent of these vehicles 

 are commercially oriented, and their employment is in support of offshore 

 oil and gas development. 



At this writing there are approximately 156 vehicles of all categories which 

 have been constructed and 180 are either operating or under construction 

 (Table 1.1), by category their numbers are as follows: 



Number of Vehicles 

 Tethered, Free-Swimming 112 



Bottom-Crawling 17 



Towed 17 



Untethered 10 



Not included in this summary are over 120 vehicles called PAP-104. These are 

 mine neutralization ROVs built by Societie Eca, Meudon, France and employed 

 by various Navys. 



1.1 VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS 



Performance capabilities and designs of ROVs vary widely and, except for vehicles 

 originating from the same manufacturer, there is little similarity from vehicle- 

 to-vehicle. The areas in which ROVs do find similarity are: reliance on 

 surface-generated power via an umbilical cable; closed circuit television for 

 viewing, and a surface ship is required for support and maintenance. One 

 additional similarity tethered, free-swimming vehicles have in common is that 

 virtually all are rectangular-shaped of open metallic framework construction 

 which encloses and support the vehicle components. Table 1.2 is a summation 

 of vehicle characteristics; it is cautioned that these characteristics vary 

 within wide ranges on specific vehicles. 



1.2 VEHICLE APPLICATIONS 



The dominant user of ROVs is the offshore oil and gas industry, the next is 

 the military sector, and, lastly, the scientific/research community. A 

 tabulation of the types of work engaged in by the various users is presented 

 in Table 1.3. Over 90 percent of all tethered, free-swimming vehicles perform 

 observation and video/photographic documentation. Manipulative tasks account 

 for less than 5 percent of their work. 



While a precise accounting of all U.S. operated tethered, free-swimming ROV 

 diving activities is virtually impossible to attain, an indication of their 

 activity level is possible. A survey of all U.S. operators was conducted to 

 identify the degree of vehicle utilization during Fiscal Year 1978 (1 October 

 1977 - 30 September 1978). At the time of the survey there were 11 U.S. operators 



