QYSEA’s FIFISH AI ROV: A Brief Introduction

What is an ‘ROV’ & What Does it Mean?

An ‘ROV’ is a Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (or Remotely Operated Vehicle), also sometimes referred to as an underwater drone or underwater robot. Essentially, ROVs are submersible, robotic systems, implemented to observe the depths of large bodies of water by operators from shore, and alongside divers in the water.

As unmanned robots controlled with remote hardware by an operator at the ocean’s surface, the cables transmitting command and control signals between the operator and the ROV allows for remote navigation of the vehicle. An Underwater ROV may include a video camera, lights, sonar systems, and an articulating arm(or robot claw). The articulating arm is used for retrieving small objects, cutting lines, or attaching lifting hooks to larger objects.

Unique History of Underwater ROVs

QYSEA’s FIFISH AI ROV1

As unmanned robots controlled with remote hardware by an operator at the ocean’s surface, the cables transmitting command and control signals between the operator and the ROV allows for remote navigation of the vehicle. An Underwater ROV may include a video camera, lights, sonar systems, and an manipulator arm(or robot claw). The articulating arm is used for retrieving small objects, cutting lines, or attaching lifting hooks to larger objects.

Categories & Classes of ROVs, UAVs & More

There are numerous types of ROVs and one class of autonomous underwater vehicle (UAV). Recent years have seen a rise of compact and portable ROVs; these ROVs are lightweight (less than 50kg), which can be deployed and recovered with one or two persons. The world has seen a huge influx of manufacturers releasing Portable Class ROVs, driving pricing lower and making underwater inspections more accessible to the everyday user, from both the professional and consumer world. Portable ROVs are quickly becoming the most prevalent class of ROVs for routine quick inspections and checkups across a range of structures.

Observation/ Leisure Class Compact ROV
An Observation Class ROV is small in size, used to explore lakes, rivers and oceans. From structural inspections to searching for unique objects to recover within the subaquatic world, these ROVs are versatile and have the ability to attached additional non-powered equipment to assist the operator with their operations and inspections.

Professional Work Class Compact ROV
A professional and light-work class ROV is ideal for operating in moderate depths. Deployed from ships and often in implemented independently or in collaboration with scuba divers. These types of compact ROVs used during inspections to make repairs. In addition, they are capable of integrating with a wide range of powered equipment and tools to boost operating capabilities, including robotic arms, laser scalers, water samplers, net patching kits, image sonars, and much more.

Industrial Work Class Compact ROV
An industrial class work class ROV is used for ocean floor exploration and inspections at deeper depths that divers would otherwise have challenges reaching. These vehicles are not only incredibly compact but highly rugged and durable, often used in offshore energy projects and deep archaeological investigations at up to 350 meters of depth.

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)

AUVs are currently developed and implemented for military purposes and have not yet been marketed to other industries. These types of larger-sized vehicles monitor enemy ships, protect harbors, and scan the surrounding environments for potential dangers. AUVs do not require a tether or the extent of user manipulation needed for ROVs. AUVs, and are expected to become available for commercial applications in the near future, once they have developed a niche market in deep sea drilling and construction.

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Underwater ROV System’s Essential Kit

Camera

You might ask what type of camera is used in ROV? At least one camera is mounted in front of the ROV to take photos and high-definition video of the seafloor and water column to transmit back to the operators onshore. Since the remotely operated vehicle travels deep underwater, the only view that the pilot has is through the onboard camera, which must be able to provide an image with low-latency and minimal delays.

Thrusters

The vector thrusters are electrically powered propellers which are used to maneuver the vehicle in the subaquatic environment. In most cases, there are multiple thrusters installed in the ROV to provide movement in multiple directions and in more versatile angles.

Frame/ Build
The frame of the underwater ROV provides a structure to attach the thrusters, camera, lights, tether, and other components of the ROV. In addition to the conventional rectangular frame, some ROVs are built with highly specialized frames to reduce drag underwater and to deliver a more unique and improved appearance.

Lights
High power LEDs bring light to the dark depths of the ocean so that cameras can capture exceptional images and videos across numerous subaquatic environments. This element is essential as sunlight disappears rapidly underwater, where many ROV missions occur at depths that are normally in complete darkness.

Control Station
The controls on the surface can range from a comprehensive control room to a simple and widely-used smartphone. In any case, the surface controls provides the operator a physical interface for the pilot to control the vehicle and a display of feedback from the vehicle. Which includes the camera view. For larger-sized vehicles, there will generally be two operators managing the ROV, one controlling the vehicle and one controlling the attachment tools.

Tether
Most ROVs today have a tether cable carrying electrical power and/or signals to the surface that allows the pilot to control the vehicle and see the camera. The cable connecting the ROV to the onshore controller delivers the channel of both power and communication between the two ends. In main industry bottleneck is that because radio waves don’t travel far through water, it is not possible to operate an ROV with modern wireless technology, unless with an innovative method. Alternatively acoustic and optical modem technologies are being tested, that may someday enable wireless operation.

Power Sources
An ROV can be powered either with its internally charged battery, or through an outside source. An external power source from onshore has the advantage that the vehicle does not need to carry heavy lithium batteries and is also not limited by battery life, though will require need to have strict safety measures in place to protect any nearby human divers. Battery-powered ROVs can be advantageous for routine underwater inspections, as a more efficient, environmental and economical option.

Add-on Components
ROVs can be integrated with a wide range of professional underwater add-on kits tools, which can enhance operational capabilities and boost the overall user experience. Add-on component categories can range across inspection, retrieval, measuring, sampling, navigation, power-enhancing, and much more.

Customizability
Additional hardware, add-ons and equipment can be added to the ROV to measure parameters, boost operational power, enhance capabilities for a mission or task, and much more.

Benefits of a Modern Underwater ROV

With a more compact size, affordable costs, and greater capabilities, the modern compact ROV brings numerous benefits to the commercial professional and adventurous explorer.

Portable, Simple & Light to Carry

Easily carried between two people, the ROV can be seamlessly transported with personal cars, public railways, and can be operated from a small-sized boat.

Quick deployment

Dive & operate the waters with enhanced efficiency, set-up & deploy the compact ROV in just 30 seconds.

Deep Operating Depths

A compact ROV offers powerful resistance against currents, deep diving depths of up to 350 meters, and intuitive scanning of environments, minimize operational risks for divers.

Multi-Tool Ports & Integrations

ROVs deliver highly flexible maneuverability underwater with simple controls, as well as expandable capabilities with numerous professional multi-industry capable tools.

Cinematic Clarity

Most ROVs offer 4K cinematic clarity with bright levels of Lumen LED brightness, delivering vibrant images and films within dark and turbid environments.

ROV Applications & Uses

Aquaculture
Aquaculture is a key source of food, nutrition, income and livelihoods for millions of people around the globe. Using an ROV allows remotely operated vehicle pilot to take control of their fish farms. ROVs provide a safe and stable solution for farmers to monitor and assess their livestock. Compared with traditional methods, where farmers would need to make the dives themselves, underwater drones are simple to operate and ready to go anytime, with fewer risks involved.

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Offshore Energy
As the population grows, the need for efficient production and delivery of energy is becoming more pressing. All forms of energy require infrastructure underwater: wind, solar, oil and gas, nuclear, and hydroelectricity. An ROV delivers a one-stop solution that is safe, seamless and cost effective. Suitable with frequent industrial maintenance and operational work for small and large offshore structures.

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Search & Recovery
The modern ROV delivers a reliable & portable solution for advanced rescue and salvage missions. An ROV provides a safe, efficient, and portable solution for a range of underwater search and rescue operations, with tools suitable for both the commercial and consumer markets.

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Shipping & Maritime
Periodic inspections of boat hulls during transit and when entering ports are a necessity to monitor: a vessel’s structural integrity, the potential transfer of an invasive species, or contraband smuggling. A modern ROV provides a safe, efficient, and portable solution for a range of underwater search and rescue operations, with tools suitable for both the commercial and consumer markets.

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Infrastructure Inspections
Routine inspections are critical to the long-term care and success of any type of infrastructure. With ROV camera underwater infrastructure missions, routine inspections such as dam, bridge and reservoir inspections can be both difficult and dangerous. With its compact size, modern ROVs fits easily into the small spaces of submerged structures and perform reliable inspections, utilizing its versatile and flexible maneuverability.

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Defense & Security
Threats to security are often hidden in underwater locations, either as discarded evidence, contraband travelling on ships, or explosives placed to cause destruction. ROV’s have the unique capability of locating, identifying & preventing harmful underwater-related threats with quickness, precision and through a collaborative effort with security teams.

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Ocean Science & Conservation
ROVs are used to help with environmental research and surveying our oceans for evidence. With an ROV, safely and simply conduct lengthy and detailed underwater scientific explorations, also utilizing the ROV as an essential tool of education across the fields of science, technology, and engineering. also utilizing the ROV as an essential tool of education across the fields of science, technology, and engineering.

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Discovery & Exploration
As we discover more and more about our earth, the desire to understand what we cannot see beneath the waves is greater than ever. Many discovery expeditions now make use of specially designed ROVs; these are equipped with cameras to mitigate underwater risks and help divers with imaging and video recording capabilities. An ROV provides the user a unique opportunity to explore up close the various behaviours of ocean life -such as breeding, mating, hunting, and much more- all while at the comfort of staying on land.

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What Makes QYSEA’s FIFISH Underwater ROV special?

The FIFISH Underwater Robots -developed by QYSEA- is a series of compact professional Underwater ROV solutions designed for advanced small-scale operations and inspections. The FIFISH’s self-developed vector thruster system achieves 360-degree freedom in underwater mobility for the operator, redefining industry standards of small robotics implemented for professional marine inspections, operations, and explorations.

QYSEA's key technological advantages are a result of its fluid and durable build, compact and powerful motor, multi-tool expansive platform, range of smart software algorithms, and advanced imaging system.

The FIFISH Underwater ROV's patented hydrodynamic and droplet-shaped design delivers minimal resistance to ocean currents, resulting in reduced power consumption and increased average dive times of up to 5 hours. In addition to its fluid design, the compact yet robust build provides a fully-sealed and all-around protection against corrosion and sand particles.

The Q-Motor is a self-developed and double closed-loop induction motor system that achieves autonomous control, strong depth resistance with high stabilization, as well as improved energy efficiency. Rigorously tested to provide over 800 hours of reliable usage and operation, the six-motor system arrangement utilizes intelligent algorithms to actively adapt to its surroundings, delivering highly stable and smooth mobility for its ROV users. Combined with the ROV’s lightweight aluminum propellers, the Q-Motor reaches speeds of up to 4 knots along with essential safety mechanisms to prevent overheating, short-circuits, and overcurrents.

QYSEA’s patented Q-IF interface enables integration with a wide range of attachments that are specially developed to meet professional requirements across offshore operations, fish farming tasks, conservation missions, and deep-sea explorations. The integration system is achieved through the FIFISH Underwater ROV’s accessory port, which unlocks access to over 60 add-on tools for inspections, measurements, object recoveries, quality samplings, navigation, and adaptive positioning. Further patented add-on systems have been developed to benefit FIFISH operators, including a portable power supply that achieves unlimited dive lengths, a live-streaming device for large-screen and multi-team collaborations, remote long-distance control using 5G networks, and much more.

QYSEA delivers optimized imaging through a robust camera system and smart visual algorithms. Equipped with a single or dual 4K UHD camera system, along with a 166° field-of-view lens and ultra-bright LED lights of up to 12,000 lumens, the details, and colors of surrounding underwater environments are fully captured and realized. In addition, QYSEA's low-latency camera system and self-developed AI algorithms deliver vibrant imagery among turbid environments while removing all unwanted distortions, resulting in the most capable camera solution yet among small-sized ROVs.

QYSEA: The Future of Compact Underwater ROVs

Remote Wireless Control

5G wireless & long-distance control unlocked. Introducing QYSEA’s patented remote wireless control system, providing operators the ability to control the FIFISH Underwater ROVs over long and remote distances. Utilizing surrounding base station networks and communications with the Edgebox Control System, users are can operate the FIFISH from vast distance ranges of up to hundreds of kilometres away from its remotely operated vehicle operating areas.

The integrated system and network delivers a low latency controlling experience and high-definition video feedback in real-time, providing remotely operated vehicle pilot across a range of marine industries with greater efficiency, effectiveness, and safety for their team.

AI Object Tracking & Locking

QYSEA’s self-developed Vision Lock function is a pioneer technological feature through the FIFISH APP. Vision Lock unleashes a range of intuitive capabilities that keep your subjects securely in focus. By utilizing the Dead Reckoning navigation process, the FIFISH Underwater ROV accurately determines the positions of objects and delivers highly stabilized movements to adaptively lock onto subjects in real-time.

Extended Perpetual Dives

Delivering the ability to operate and charge simultaneously. Power through your operations and extend your ROV’s diving time with simultaneous quick-charging capabilities and worry-free operational control. Fast charge your underwater robot wherever your adventures take you. Experience a continuous workflow of operations without needing to return onshore, increase the efficiency of your missions by over 95%.

Precise Location Tracking

The U-QPS is a software and hardware ecosystem that provides a 3D map of the FIFISH Underwater ROV’s real-time location, POI recordings, three-dimensional dive paths, as well as a one-click function for returning to its original location. Built to perform reliably under a range of underwater interferences, the U-QPS elevates inspection tasks and discovery missions to a new professional level.

QYSEA is excited to be part of the evolution in ROVs and excited to take part in what’s to come.