Our first commercial job with a fiber optic tether was a success. This may be half build/half dive log. We performed a 1km tunnel penetration and our new F/O tether durability was more than satisfactory. Specs: 4.2mm OD, 300kg breaking strength, 4x 9/125um core/cladding, plastic tube, PU jacket. The 1GB bandwidth and 4 port Ethernet hub enabled us to run full speed on the Gemini sonar + profiling sonar + 1080P. We find we reach the limit of a VDSL modem around 1km with only 480P video and the mechanical scanning 831 profiling sonar (no chance of running an imaging sonar). Now with the fiber and a proven tether, up to 3km (no water flow) won’t be an issue for this specially modified Lanai ROV system. The only issue was running a full 3 batteries and the added weight required some float blocks.
Amazing work! Congratulations
Looks great!
How do you tether manage that huge length of cable!
K.
Thank you for the compliments.
We have 1,500m of the tether (4.2mm OD) on an old hand reel (not a Blue Robotics Fathom). One of the reasons for the old surplus reel is because we wanted to run a copper slipring (gigabit Ethernet rated) so that the media converter (F/O LC to RJ45 Ethernet) is housed inside the rotating Junction Box. This eliminates the need for an optical slipring.
In this case, we are still evaluating optical sliprings. There are many on the market, but the more robust ones can be very expensive. I have personally signed a PO for a $15,000 USD set of 4-pass optical sliprings, but these are very industrial and for high reliability applications. When we find one that works well, we may well begin selling optical upgrade kits or making the documentation available so that other users can convert it themselves.
I know of one BROV that has been on 9km of fiber. Worked flawlessly.
Looks great, what is the cable buoyancy?
The fiber tether is Neutral in fresh water. If you are interested we can always provide you with some tether.
To anyone who is considering buying a length of similar tether, I recommend you contact Allen Zhou allen@rovcable.com.
That’s a great looking ROV!
Now for my advice…
People keep whining about sliprings.
You don’t need a slipring if the spool doesn’t rotate.
I use a homemade baling-reel style setup, much like a modern fishing reel.
The arm winds the tether on/off of a stationary spool.
Got a picture of this Darrell?
“A picture is worth a thousand words” Henrik Ibsen
I’d love to.
But my storage unit in Arkansas was burgled, they took basically everything, my topside computers, the Tether-management cage (with the ROV inside), alot of microcameras and several DVR’s.
I’ve looked at the harddrives i brought up to Illinois but they contain zero pictures of my equipment. The police were less than helpful, there is alot of storage-unit theft going on. The ROV is so unique it probably got dumped in a ravine somewhere.
I can draw the basic design, and i have since improved on it anyway. If you are interested?
@Oddmar , I stumbled upon this topic - I would be very interested to know how you made that bailing reel! If you could make a quick sketch or take pictures in case you rebuilt it, it would be great.
Sorry for reviving old topic, but I thought this might be useful for many if Darrell replies 