GOT A QUESTION? HERE'S JUST SOME WE'VE ENCOUNTERED...

Q. What is an R.O.V.?

A. Basically an R.O.V., or Remotely Operated Vehicle, is a tethered waterproof video camera with motors

and various sensors, which can be controlled by an operator on the surface without the need for a diver

and his attendants. In some configurations, a claw or manipulator is attached to retrieve objects or attach a line.

A. No, R.O.V.'s have been used by the government since the mid 1950's and by the private sector since the mid 1970's.

It is only recently that R.O.V. prices have dropped to within the reach of small companies like ourselves who can help the everyday people and

agencies in our community.

A. R.O.V.'s can perform underwater inspections without exposing humans to dangerous situations -

inside of a pipe line for example. An R.O.V. does not have the legal and physiological limits imposed on

divers. There are no O.S.H.A. regulations concerning R.O.V. operations, an R.O.V. can work at greater

depths without the need for decompression or decompression chambers, an R.O.V. has no bottom time

limitations, an R.O.V. with an experienced pilot can fly and hover within inches of the bottom without

disturbing sediments and creating turbidity issues. ROV's are limited only by their operating limitations of depth and umbilical length.

A. Due to smaller crew size, less support equipment and lower insurance rates an R.O.V. inspection will

always be virtually lower in cost than an O.S.H.A. legal diving crew. This is especially significant during

inspections deeper than 100 Ft. where additional personnel and a documented, on site, decompression

chamber are required by law.

A. No. An inspection class R.O.V. can't do the nut and bolt work a diver can.

Our R.O.V. is an inspection tool, only. This is about the extent of its work capabilities.

A. No. We don't want to, so we don't have dive crews available. Our objective is to provide you with an

accurate unbiased inspection . There is no reason for us to exaggerate deficiencies in order to perform costly

additional and possibly unnecessary work at your facilities. In a nutshell, "What you see is what you get."

A. Yes, and much more thoroughly than a diver. The R.O.V. and its umbilical are constructed entirely of

plastic and metal. There is no duct tape or fabric webbing which trap and act as breeding grounds for

bacteria. Also, there is no exhaust of divers exhaled air and secretions into the water during the

inspection.

A. No. The change in the stabilized hydrostatic pressure under the tank can cause a concrete tank floor

to crack and welds to flex and stress crack causing leakage and expensive repair problems. In addition,

the walls of a tall dry tank are impossible to inspect without a bosons chair or scaffolding. The R.O.V.

can hover at any depth making complete close-up inspection of all wall surfaces possible.

A. The R.O.V.'s monitor screen display provides a depth reading in feet and tenths of a foot in addition to a

compass heading. This information is vocally recorded by the operator on a voice-over on the  DVD for easy review, and we keep an

informal note book handy for last minute on the fly notes.

A. No, because its usually not necessary.

Contrary to what you may have been told by other wet inspection companies, there

are no federal, state or local laws or regulations which require sediment removal unless you have an obvious water quality problem.

It costs you a lot of extra money and if the sediments aren't causing turbidity problems there is no reason to clean the tank at every

inspection. In addition, there is some question whether the sediments are considered hazardous waste possibly containing

trihalomethanes and requiring special transportation permits and disposal at an approved disposal site. Both of which could add

considerable cost or heavy fines if not properly handled.

Due to the belief that trihalomethanes are a carcinogen, if your diver/cleaners are dumping removed

sediments on the ground its roughly equal to dumping PCBs from an old transformer. Normally. a potable water storage tank has a

silt barrier on the outflow pipe preventing the introduction of silt into the distribution system. The silt barrier is a fancy term for a pipe

extension that rises above the floor and any possible silt deposits. As long as the barrier is in place, silt will not enter your system

and cleaning is understandably not required or economically desirable.

A. ...More than you can imagine!

Your representative's can view real time video during the entire inspection and spend as much time as

necessary to investigating all anomalies as they're discovered.. We encourage real-time viewing and comments.

We can safely penetrate any horizontal pipe with a 15 In. or larger ID. or vertical pipe with a 20" dia. or larger and up to 225' in length.

The R.O.V. never gets cold, hungry, thirsty or has any need to relieve itself. The R.O.V doesn't have a nose to run and secrete bacteria & germs

through a helmet or regulator exhaust into your water. How do you disinfect that?

The R.O.V. can dive as deep as 250 Ft. but we try to limit ourselves to 225' for logistically reasons.

The R.O.V. can stay under indefinitely as long as electric power is available to it.

We always arrive on site with a generator, AC extension cord , sandwiches, and a drink cooler to insure total self sufficiency.

Due to the design of its protective cage it is not susceptible to suction, or Delta P, accidents. There is normally no need to take the

structure off line during the inspection but in some cases, reducing the flow is very beneficial to the quality of video you will be able to capture.

Q. How big is the R.O.V. and what does it look like?

A. The R.O.V. vehicle only weighs 8 Lbs.

Two cases which are easily transported by vehicle or air are all it takes to provide inspection services in many remote locations.