DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE (ROV)

FOR SHALLOW WATER

MUHAMMAD SAFIE BIN ROSLI

Thesis is submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the awards of the degree of

Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering

Faculty of Electrical Engineering

UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA (UTeM)

2012

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STUDENT'S DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this thesis entitled "Design and Development of Remotely

Operated Vehicle (ROV) for Shallow Water" is the result of my own research except as cited

in the references. This is project is adequate in terms of scope and quality for the award of the

degree of Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering.

Signature :

Name : MUHAMMAD SAFIE BIN ROSLI

ID Number : B010910170

Date :

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SUPERVISOR'S DECLARATION

I hereby declare that I have checked this project and in my opinion, this project is

adequate in terms of scope and quality for the awards of the Degree of Bachelor of

Mechatronic Engineering.

Signature :

Name : PN. FADILAH BINTI ABDUL AZIS

Position : Lecturer

Date :

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Specially dedicated to:

My father, Rosli Bin Abdul Wahid

My mother, Samsiah Binti Ismail

My sibling, Muhammad Suhaimi Bin Rosli

Thanks for the loves and supports

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere and gratitude to my supervisor

Pn. Fadilah Binti Abdul Azis for guidance throughout the progress of this project, for her

germinal ideas, invaluable guidance, continuous encouragement and constant support. This

thesis would not have been possible without her guidance. I appreciate her consistent support

from the first day I applied to graduate program to these concluding moments. I also sincerely

thanks for the time spent proofreading and correcting my naive mistakes.

Moreover, my sincere thanks go to all members of the staff of the Mechatronic

Engineering Department UTeM, who helped me and made my life studying in UTeM pleasant

and unforgettable. Many special thanks go to my classmates and dear housemate for their

excellent understanding, co-operation, inspiration and supports during this study.

I acknowledge my sincere and my great appreciation goes to all my family members

who have been so patient and support me all these years. Without their encouragement and

love, I would not be able to undergo the pressure due to this project. During the process of

constructing design of prototype ROV, there are many difficulties that I faced but, with the

guidance and supported from underwater team members, Syed Razlan Shah, Muhammad

Fauzi and Goh Joen Sam, as well as all BEKM mates finally I was able to finished my first

report for final year 1 smoothly.

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ABSTRACT

Remotely Operated Underwater vehicles (ROV) currently have being utilized for

scientific and commercials application. Many industries are involved on develop robot in

order to reduce human works as well as increase productivity, efficiencies and monitoring.

Most of the petroleum industries are facing problem doing inspecting and monitoring on

piping or chain underwater. All task need to be done by divers himself. There are constraint

issues on underwater environment that dangerous and depth pressurized affect human body.

Otherwise there is needed highly cost for each task. Therefore, there is ROV design in order to

replace the divers itself. It is tethered underwater robot control manually by user using

joystick. The benefit of this ROV is it can submerge through the underwater for certain type of

underwater duties such as monitoring. The ROV are design to withstand pressure underwater

by selection of suitable material for pressure hulls and fixed with water proof to avoid leakage

to the electronic circuit. The Peripheral Interface Controller (PIC) is used to control the

movement of this ROV. The ROV was design based in 3 goals maneuverability, performance

and future industrial implementation (ability to carry camera, tools, and sensors). This ROV

will test on two type of testing area such as laboratory pool and swimming pool. This report

also shows all the performances of ROV. Standard test method for pressure testing, buoyancy

and controlling efficiencies are considered on testing the ROV. This report represents the

development of ROV in form of mechanical design, electronic and software implementation.

This project will give much benefit for related underwater industries by looking at ROV's

features that is capable to undergo with velocity 0.1m/s for horizontal movement and velocity

0.2m/s for vertical movement.

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ABSTRAK

Kenderaan air kawalan jarak jauh sering digunakan untuk tujuan saintifik mahupun

komersial. Kebanyakkan industri telah melibatkan diri dalam pembangunan robot demi

mengurangkan kerja manusia serta meningkatkan penghasilan, kecekapan dan pemantauan.

Kebanyakkan industri petroleum menghadapi masalah melakukan pemeriksaaan dan

pengawasan perpaipan serta rantaian di dalam air. Semua keperluan tugasan harus dilakukan

oleh penyelam sendiri. Terdapat beberapa isu yang menjadi kekangan tentang persekitaran di

dalam air yang merbahaya serta bertekanan tinggi yang mungkin memberi kesan terhadap

tubuh manusia. Selain itu, ia memerlukan kos yang tinggi dalam melaksanakan sesuatu

tugasan. Lantarannya, rekaan ROV bertujuan untuk menggantikan penyelam tersebut. Robot

dalam air ini dikawal oleh pengguna menggunakan alat kawalan. Faedah ROV ini ialah ia

boleh menenggelami air untuk melakukan tugas-tugas tertentu. ROV ini telah direka mampu

menahan tekanan air melalui pemilihan bahan untuk "pressure hull" dan kalis air bagi

mengelak kebocoran terhadap litar elektronik. Litar bersepadu (PIC) digunakan untuk

mengawal pergerakan ROV. ROV ini dicipta berdasarkan 3 matlamat untuk pengendalian,

prestasi dan perlaksanaan industri untuk masa depan (kebolehan untuk mengangkut kamera,

alatan dan sensor). ROV ini akan diuji di dalam dua jenis tempat seperti kolam makmal, dan

kolam renang. Thesis ini menunjukkan semua prestasi ROV. Kaedah ujian akan dilakukan

untuk menguji tekanan, keapungan dan kecekapan pergerakan akan dipertimbangkan dalam

pengujian ROV. Thesis ini menunjukkan pembangunan ROV dalam reka bentuk mekanikal,

elektronik dan perisian. Projek ini akan memberi manfaat yang banyak untuk industri yang

berkaitan di bawah air dengan melihat ciri-ciri ROV yang mampu menjalani dengan halaju

0.1m / s untuk pergerakan mendatar dan halaju 0.2m / s untuk pergerakan menegak.

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TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

TABLE OF CONTENT viii

LIST OF TABLES xi

LIST OF FIGURES xii

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xiv

LIST OF APPENDICES xv

1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.2 Project Background 1

1.3 Problem Statement 3

1.4 Objectives of the project 4

1.5 Scope of the project 4

2 LITERATURE REVIEW 5

2.1 Literature Survey 5

2.2 Material (Frame Body) 7

2.3 Buoyancy and Stability 10

2.4 Thruster 12

2.4.1 Propeller 13

2.4.2 Position of Thruster 14

2.5 Tether 15

2.6 Related Work 16

2.6.1 Design Comparison Table 21

2.6.2 K-Chart on designing the ROV 23

2.6.3 Pair wise Comparison & Weighted Objectively Method 24

3 METHODOLOGY 27

3.1 PSM Flow Chart 28

3.2 Data Collection 29

3.3 Mechanical Construction (Solid Work) 29

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3.4 Electronic Construction 30

3.4.1 Electronic Wiring 31

3.4.2 PSC28A (Controller Circuit) 32

3.4.3 Relay Circuit Controller 32

3.4.4 Etching Circuit 33

3.4.5 Power Supply 34

3.4.6 Safety Features 34

3.5 Mechanical Construction 35

3.5.1 ROV Specification 35

3.5.2 Design ROV using Solid Work 37

3.5.2.1 Sketching 37

3.5.2.2 Design (Solid Work) 37

3.5.3 Ballast Tank 38

3.6 Centre of gravity 39

3.7 Weight Estimation 40

3.8 Experiment 50

3.8.1 Waterproof Testing 50

3.8.2 Buoyancy Testing 52

3.8.3 Operation Underwater Testing 54

3.8.3.1 Moving Forward and Reverse 54

3.8.3.2 Turn Right and Left 56

3.8.3.3 Raise and Submerge using Ballast Tank 58

3.10 Prepare Technical Report 59

3.11 Summary 59

4 RESULT AND ANALYSIS 60

4.1 Mechanical Construction Design 60

4.1.1 Design SMART ROV 60

4.2 Thruster Design 61

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4.2.1 Thruster 61

4.3 Experiment Results 62

4.3.1 Waterproof Body Structure 62

4.3.2 Buoyancy of ROV 63

4.3.3 Underwater Operation 64

4.3.3.1 Moving Forward and Reverse 64

4.3.3.2 Turn Right and Left 71

4.3.3.3 Raise and submerge using Thruster 73

5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 78

5.1 Conclusion 79

5.2 Recommendations 80

REFERENCES 81

APPENDICES 83

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LIST OF TABLES

TABLE TITLE PAGE

2.1 Comparison of Pressure Hull materials 9

2.2 Comparison Design 21

2.3 Comparison Design 2 22

2.4 Requirement Needed 24

2.5 Result for pair wise comparison 24

2.6 Requirement Percentage 25

2.7 Weighted Objectively Method 26

3.1 Component applied force 42

4.1 Waterproof testing observation 62

4.2 Buoyancy Testing observation 63

4.3 Forward Testing Data (Lab pool) 64

4.4 Backward Testing Data (Lab pool) 64

4.5 Forward Testing Data (Swimming Pool) 65

4.6 Backward Testing Data (Swimming pool) 65

4.7 Forward Testing Data (Analysis) 66

4.8 Backward Testing Data (Analysis) 67

4.9 Turn Right Testing Data 69

4.10 Turn Left Testing Data 69

4.11 Submerge Testing Data (Lab Pool) 70

4.12 Raise testing Data (Lab Pool) 70

4.13 Submerge Testing Data (Swimming Pool) 71

4.14 Raise testing Data (Swimming Pool) 71

4.15 Submerge Testing Data (Analysis) 72

4.16 Raise testing Data (Analysis Pool) 73

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LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE TITLE PAGE

1.1 Work-Class ROV 2

2.1 Plastic Frame 7

2.2 Aluminum Frame 8

2.3 Weight Balance 8

2.4 Simplified Weight Balance 8

2.5 A floating body may have a stable equilibrium 10

2.6 A floating body generally has a stable equilibrium 10

2.7 Propeller Design 13

2.8 View of Propulsion system 14

2.9 Neutrally Buoyant Tether Insulated 15

2.10 ACE ROV design concept 16

2.11 CCC ROV project 17

2.12 Hornet II during pool testing 18

2.13 Latis II 19

2.14 Seaweed ROV 20

2.15 K-Chart on ROV design 23

3.1 ROV Design Ideas 27

3.2 Flow Chart 28

3.3 Solidwork 29

3.4 SMART ROV Electronic System 1 30

3.5 SMART ROV Electronic System 2 31

3.6 Electronic (Controller Circuit) 31

3.7 PSC28A Circuit 32

3.8 Relay Circuit Forward 33

3.9 Relay Circuit (Etching) 33

3.10 Leakage Indicator 34

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3.11 Connection for leakage sensor plate inside pressure hull 35

3.12 Mechanical Design 36

3.13 ROV Sketch 37

3.14 SMART ROV view 37

3.15 Ballast Tank water Flow 38

3.16 Centre of Gravity ROV 39

3.17 ROV Free Body Diagram 41

3.18 Pressure Hull free body diagram 43

3.19 Ballast Tank Free body diagram 45

3.20 Air Compression Tank FBD 46

3.21 Thruster FBD 47

3.22 The method to sealed on pressure hulls 51

3.23 Pressure Hull testing in the lab 51

3.24 SMART ROV in the lab pool 53

3.25 SMART ROV buoyancy testing. 53

3.26 SMART ROV forward movement 55

3.27 SMART ROV turning movement 57

3.28 SMART ROV submerge process 59

4.1 SMART ROV construction 60

4.2 Thruster 61

4.3 Graph Distance vs Time (Forward) 66

4.4 Graph Distance vs Time (Backward) 67

4.5 Comparison between actual and calculation data. 68

4.6 Graph Distance vs Time (Submerge) 72

4.7 Graph Distance vs Time (Raise) 73

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ROV - Remotely Operated Underwater

PIC - Peripheral Interface Circuit

PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride

FYP - Final Year Project

PSM - Projek Sarjana Muda

W - Weight

DC - Direct Current

PCS - Pieces.

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LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendices TITLE PAGE

A SMART ROV View 77

B Gantt Chart 78

C Mechanical Design 79

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1. Introduction

This chapter describes the purpose of this project generally. Started with

problem according to current issues, and then translated into problem statement. Then,

the objectives of the project are established to overcome the problem statement.

Project scopes will state all the scopes and limitation for this project.

1.2. Project Background

Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) is an underwater Robot that design on

purpose for surveillance, monitoring and collecting data for all underwater activities.

Their main use is for operations either in environment hazardous to humans or at depth

pressurized that could affect system of human body. The majority of ROV's in services

are used by the oil industry for maintaining oil rigs and pipelines [1].

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Figure 1.1: Work-Class ROV [1].

Normally ROV for observation class are not embedded with any other tools.

The ROV’s is smaller than work-class ROV’s that needed more space on installing the

tools to done the underwater task. The observation classes of ROV are used for visual

inspection and capable of carrying payload of over 30kg. Sensor and camera is usually

mounted to the observation class ROV’s to done the routine surveillances of subsea

structures [1].

Alternative purpose of this project is to build robot that able to maneuver

underwater. In addition, ROV has developed with a hydrodynamic shape design. As a

development of this project, it is a must to make sure the ROV into new looks and

perform maneuver efficiencies and ability of controlling the ROV.

This robot consists of a main mechanical structure holding several thrusters,

cameras and some equipment such as depth sensor to measure altitude and pressure

sensor to measure pressure underwater. The robot is connected to a surface unit by

means of a multi conductor cable called "Tether". This cable transfers the control

signals, video signals and power between the surface unit and the ROV.

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1.3. Problem Statement

ROV’s has become more important on industries that related on underwater. Many

scientists and engineers built new technological devices that dive into deep oceans in order

to discover and survey the underwater world. Either than that, most of petroleum industries

are facing problem doing inspecting or monitoring on piping or chain. Much of the new

offshore development exceeded the reach of human divers. There is needed more divers on

doing underwater task, sometimes to done the routine of maintenance only. All task need

to be done by divers himself. Otherwise, rescue team such as BOMBA also can used ROV

to rescue and seek missing or dead body as it much related to shallow water activities.

They are many constrain that could be a restriction for divers like pressure

withstand ability when the divers need to dive high deep inspection. Hazardous on

underwater environment also could be a challenge for divers himself. The costing for the

equipment of diving and hiring of the divers itself can be higher depending on type of task.

It will cause the increment of cost and time usage for the inspection and monitoring task.

As the industry facing all of these challenge, it is importantly to develop and done

some improvement to overcome the entire problem. The alternate way to overcome this

problem is to create device that can replace the divers to fulfill all the underwater duties.

Currently, designing of ROV are facing problem on sealing the electronic part component

to avoid any leakage. Then, they also need to overcome the problem of ROV stability

while submerging and resurface the device. Controlling also one of the important part to

make sure that ROV is capable for maneuver either in surface or submerge. One of the

significant points that I choose this project is to design device that can helps on monitoring

underwater activities and have better maneuver control. Building a ROV involves a lot of

skills and knowledge in Mechanical Engineering to design the ROV body and Electrical

Engineering for power up the ROV .Programming skills also required to design the system

for ROV movement ability. All of this always is a big challenge on designing underwater

robot.

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1.4. Objectives of the project

The objectives of the project are:

a. To design a low cost ROV that is lower than RM1000 using for monitoring and

surveillances application.

b. To design a waterproofing body structure of with optimal size, weight and

submerging depth.

c. To study the performance of the ROV in terms of stability, velocity and

acceleration for monitoring application.

1.5. Scope of the project

The scopes and limitations of this project are:

a. Design and fabricate a prototype of ROV equipped with thruster to control the

ROV movement.

b. This ROV only the prototypes of the real ROV, so the characteristics is lower

in terms of material, power consumption and speed.

c. The platform will only consist of simple control system and basic equipment.

d. The depth of testing the prototype will be less than 5 meter.

e. Controller of ROV is connect by wired to the mainland.

f. The maneuverability consisted forward-reverse motion, submerge-resurface

motion and left-right rotation.

g. Environment for testing selected is controllable for control environment at

laboratory pool and swimming pool.

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

This chapter contains general information on ROV. The related review will

focus on behavior of mechanical part while submerge body in terms of its

hydrodynamics, quantitative theories and the component related to the performance of

the ROV. The facts and information were collected from reliable source and elaborated

based on understanding of the review. The information, methodologies and design

from previous research will be used as references and guidelines for this project.

2.1. ROV Classification

Nowadays many ROV are being developed around the world. The main

problem to build a ROV is the cost and effectiveness of the ROV itself. So, in order to

deduce this price the chosen of material type is important. Other than that, this project

needs to develop new design of ROV that can fulfill important task only according to

the ROV type. From the research, the ROV is divided by several classes referring to

their work ability. As (NORSOK, 2003) said the classes of ROV as below [3]:

a. Class 1 – Pure Observation

Pure observation vehicle are only focusing on video observation. Usually the size

was small but can fitted with lights and thrusters [3].

b. Class 2 – Observation with payload option

This class of vehicles must capable to carrying additional sensors. This class

should be able to carrying at least two additional sensor without loss of original

function [3].

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c. Class 3 – Work Class Vehicle

This vehicle is large enough to carry additional sensors and manipulators. Class 3

vehicles commonly have a multiplexing capability that allows additional sensors

and tools to operate without being “hardwired” through the umbilical system.

These vehicles are larger and more powerful than Class 1 and 2 [3].

d. Class 4 – Seabed-Working Vehicles

Seabed-working vehicles usually are designed for special purpose tasks. The size

must be larger than class 3. This type of ROV was able to do such tasks like cable

trenching, excavation, dredging and construction works. [3].

e. Class 5 – Prototype or development vehicle

This class of ROV include as prototypes.AUV is classified in this class [3].

By looking all the classes above, this project are categorized on Class 1.

Besides, there are also has several factors that need to be considered while designing

an observation ROV. The factors are:

a. Material (Frame Body)

b. Pressure Hulls

c. Buoyancy and stability

d. Thruster

e. Tether

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2.2. Material (Frame Body)

The frame of the ROV is a platform for the fixing component such as sensor,

cameras, lightning, and manipulators, other than that it act as robot body. The frame must

be hard enough to withstand pressure underwater and mostly anti corrosion when expose

to sea water. Many ROV have been made by using different material from Plastic

Composites to Aluminum. The size of the frame is dependent on the following criteria:

a. Weight ROV

b. Volume of the onboard equipment

c. Volume of Buoyancy

Plastics and aluminum alloys are ideally suited for use in a salt-water environment.

It would be suited due to good corrosion resistance. Otherwise it also reasonably

lightweight [20].

Figure 2.1: Plastic Frame [20]

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Figure 2.2: Aluminum Frame [20]

To check either that frame would not deform excessively during normal service, a

maximum load of 150N was assumed when picking the frame up at the midpoint of one of the

longitudinal beams [20].

Example:

Figure 2.3: Weight Balance [20].

Figure 2.4: Simplified Weight Balance [20].

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This can be seen as a simply supported beam with a point load in the centre. According

to (Dr Suleiman Abu-Sharkh,2010) said that this physically can calculate through this

equation [20] :

3

max 48PL

dEI

(2.1)

where;

dmax = Maximum deflection

P = Point Load = 150N,

L = Beam Length = 0.3m

Young’s Modulus of Aluminum, E = 68.9 GNm-2

2.2.1 Pressure Hull material

Material selection for Pressure Hull must be capable to withstand pressure underwater

until 2 bar. Therefore, there is comparison data of Pressure Hull materials that suitable could

be used for designing this ROV.

Table 2.1: Comparison of Pressure Hull materials

Steel Alloy

Aluminum Alloy

Titanium Alloy Composite Ceramic

Ultimate Stress (Kpsi) 60 73 125 300 100 Density (lb/in3) 0.283 0.1 0.16 0.056 0.13

Fabrication Excellent Very Good Good Excellent Excellent Corrosion Resistance Poor Fair Very Good Excellent Excellent

Magnetic susceptibility Very High Medium High Very Low Very Low

Relative Cost Very low Very Low Moderate Moderate Moderate