Scientists and engineers at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) successfully conducted initial in-water system checkout of the Dive Buddy Remotely Operated Vehicle (DBROV) prototype aboard NSWC PCD on September 30, 2016.
The DBROV test was the first time the vehicle had been operated in the water with many of its major components on the vehicle.
The semi-autonomous ROV was created to increase situational awareness during underwater interventions and assist divers and diving supervisors with safety, navigation, workload and communication.
The capabilities of Dive Buddy include following the diver/target while remaining at a safe distance, small area searches, emergency retrieval of untethered divers, hauling of tools and emergency life support, reconnaissance of the dive site and tagging items of interest. Dive Buddy obtains real-time imagery of the dive with onboard sonar and video and can wirelessly communicate with the diver and sensors on his rig.
NSWC PCD Electrical Engineer Lee Cofer stated this initial testing was significant and essential in preparations for diver operation.
“The testing verifies that the vehicle controller is working properly and allows us to progress into more advanced control procedures with the goal of performing autonomous behaviors,” he said.
During testing, checks were performed on the vehicle’s communication capabilities, lighting controls and camera systems. Lastly, DBROV was remotely controlled to characterize the vehicle’s performance in low speed precision maneuvering.
“It is very rewarding to see Dive Buddy brought to life from the conceptual phase,” said Cofer. “The entire team has worked very hard and has been very focused on the fine details. To finally get a chance to see the vehicle demonstrate its potential for Fleet use is a very gratifying feeling.”
DBROV began as a Naval Innovative Science and Engineering, or NISE, project funded by NSWC PCD. Cofer said the concept for DBROV began in 2013 when the need and potential of such a vehicle was realized.
Under the NISE program, the first year of the project was to study the needs of end users and develop a base set of requirements that were then refined by Warfighters and subject matter experts. With follow on NISE funding the team successfully designed and built a prototype vehicle.
With continued interest within the Navy dive community, ONR Tech Solutions, which rapidly produces prototype solutions to problems submitted by Sailors and Marines, is sponsoring the project.
Looking forward, Cofer said the next phase of testing will focus on autonomous navigation and the diver interface. Additionally, Cofer said the most important milestones for 2017 will be to test the vehicle with divers in simulated and operational environments.