Since the 1960’s three basic types of exploration vehicles have been developed, and they all remain in use today. Each type has its own role in ocean research and they often support or complement each other’s capabilities.

AUV

Click a vehicle below to learn more.

ROV

HOV

Underwater Research Vehicles

Pressure housing

Home

Camera

Thrusters Batteries Navigation Onboard computer Pressure housing

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

Light

Syntactic Foam

Batteries

Has:

Navigation

Does Not Have:

Computer

Tether Manipulator arm Sample basket Personnel sphere

Collision avoidance

Thruster

Personnel sphere Batteries

Tether

Remotely Operated Vehicle

Sample basket

Manipulator arm Onboard computer Cameras

Side thrusters

Manipulator arm

Thrusters

Thrusters Navigation Sample basket Tether

Human occupied sphere

Syntactic Foam

Variable ballast

Manipulator arm

Human Occupied Vehicle

Manipulator arm Cameras Personnel sphere Variable ballast

Side thruster

Thrusters Navigation Onboard computer Sample basket Batteries

Ballast