ROV | remotely operated vessel

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Home > Ocean > Exploring the Deep > Remote Operated Vehicles

Remote Operated Vehicles/Cameras

Another method that scientists use to study creatures of the deep is to lower a video camera on a rope to the bottom and videotape whatever passes in front of the camera lens. This is a great way to capture live footage of deep ocean creatures in their own habitat. To help the process along, fresh bait is usually added to the carriage that the camera is mounted on to encourage specimens to come in front of the camera lens. Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) have also been developed to carry video cameras down to depths and make recordings or transmit live footage back to a screen where scientists can view it real-time (as it's happening). ROV's are maneuverable and can be "driven", or directed to the location that the human operator wants to monitor (just like a toy remote-control car).

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JASON

This is JASON; a Remote Operated Vehicle owned by theWoodshole Oceanographic Institute (photo courtesy of WHOI).