A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) doesn't have navigational capability. This research tries to integrate Global Positioning System (GPS), motion sensor, gyrocompass and super short baseline underwater positioning system to a virtual reality (VR) system to become a navigation system. The size, location, and orientation of the exploring targets should be recognized from MBES data in order to model the VR underwater terrain and features. The position of the ROV, the heading and distance to the exploring target, and the hazard of collision to the underwater features will be shown in the VR environment. This paper also discusses the problems and solution of data jamming and time delay in the display. This research has demonstrated that VR is a suitable navigational solution to the ROV.
ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) is a very useful tool for marine resource exploration of concrete artificial reefs and ship reefs, for the condition inspection of the ocean outfall, underwater pipeline and dam etc.. However, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), such as: Mini Rover MK II, doesn't have navigational capability. This ROV is only equipped with a depth sensor, a digital magnetic compass and a video camera for navigational purpose. The heading, depth and range to the target are the important information for a ROV operator to efficiently control a ROV to approach to the right target. Therefore, we need a navigation system for this ROV in order to visit the sea bottom features correctly. This research tries to establish a navigation system for Mini Rover MK II to explore the concrete artificial reefs. The location and orientation information about the deployed concrete artificial reefs on the sea floor should be collected before exploration. Multibeam echo sounding (MBES) technology was applied to collect the depth information about concrete artificial reefs.
