DEEP ROVER FEATURES

Full Visibility
The pressure hull of the Deep Rover 1002 submersibles consists of a transparent acrylic sphere, which offers an unprecedented 320-degree view of the outside environment. Traditionally, deep diving submersibles have only been able to offer pilots and observers limited visibility through small viewing ports. The Deep Rovers acrylic pressure hull configuration ensures the occupants can see both the submersibles' external equipment and their surrounding environment.

Comfort
The pilot and the observer sit comfortably upright on regular seating while cabin pressure is maintained at one atmosphere using a traditional metabolic make up life support system. Cabin temperature and humidity is maintained at a comfortable level by the submersibles air-conditioning system and all life support related parameters are monitored by the pilot, using sophisticated atmospheric sensors and sampling equipment.

Reliability
The two Deep Rovers have each logged over 200 successful dives each since their launch in 1994. Their predecessor Deep Rover 001, the first acrylic sphere submersible, has also safely made hundreds of dives.

Simultaneous two Sub operation
The two submersible Deep Rover operation is one of only two such multi-submersible operations in the world. The Deep Rovers can operate simultaneously or independently. They are able to mutually assist and guide one another yet they do not rely on one another. This two-sub operation is a feature that strongly appeals to those involved in filming related operations.

Ease of Handling / Thrusters
Each Deep Rover 1002 is fitted with four (4) five (5) horsepower thrusters controlled by a single joystick from inside the acrylic sphere. The pilot or the observer, with only minimal training, can easily control all the movements of the submersible, because of the intuitive nature of the controls. The compact size and weight of the Deep Rover 1002 submersibles compared with thruster power available results in an incredibly manoeuvrable craft with a high power to weight ratio. The generously sized 30 kWh battery ensures 8-hour missions are achievable, depending on the dive profile.

Safety
The Deep Rover 1002 submersibles have been pressure tested to 1.25 times their maximum diving depth (1,250 meters or 4,100 feet) with a designed safety factor of four times and a theoretical crush depth of over 4,000 metres (13,120 feet).

The three main safety concerns for passengers in submersibles are entanglement, fire and flooding. The Deep Rover 1002 design mitigates these potential risks as follows:

Entanglement - The manoeuvrability and superb visibility reduce the chance of entanglement to a minimum while the feature of diving two submersibles also offers the ability to give assistance should an entanglement situation arise.

Fire - The principal cause of fire in a submerged vehicle is associated with electrical faults. The risk of fire has been diminished in the Deep Rovers by keeping all high current circuits outside of the pressure hull. Only small currents required to both power the internal equipment and control the external equipment are used within the hull. In addition, all equipment within the personnel sphere is halogen free, non-smoke producing and self-extinguishing. The Deep Rovers are also equipped with both a built in breathing system and self-contained oxygen generating re-breather units, which offer the occupants over 100 minutes of self contained life support.

Flooding - The Deep Rovers are accessed through a bottom hatch. Flooding incidents typically occur at the surface in submersibles when the access hatch is opened prematurely allowing water to enter the pressure hull. Configuring the Deep Rovers with a bottom hatch eliminates this problem.

Life Support
In the event an extended stay on bottom is required, the Deep Rover 1002 submersibles are equipped with 72 hours of emergency life support per person including carbon dioxide absorbent, food, water, basic first aid, waste disposal facilities, atmospheric sampling equipment and sufficient power for any communications that may be required.

Tracking
An optional Track Point II system can be used to monitor the position of the Deep Rover submersibles relative to the ship while they are dived. In this case, each submersible would be fitted with an underwater beacon that interfaces with the system, which is monitored by the base station aboard the mothership. This system allows the support ship to both follow and plot the position of the submersibles during a dive.

Manipulators
Each Deep Rover is equipped with two (2) six (6) function, rate-controlled, Hawke sensory manipulators. These manipulators can either be operated by the pilot or the observer, with minimal training, because of the intuitive nature of the joystick controls used.

Sonar
Each Deep Rover 1002 submersible is fitted with a state of the art Simrad MS900 colour imaging sonar system.

Launch and Retrievals
The compact size and relatively small tonnage of the Deep Rovers make them less cumbersome than their predecessors. They can be launched and retrieved from small ships of opportunity in average to moderate sea conditions.

Lighting
Any combination of lighting packages can be installed on the Deep Rovers. Lights available include 1200-Watt, 600-Watt, 400-Watt and 200-Watt HMI lights.

Filmmaking
Camera and lighting packages can be fitted to the Deep Rovers to facilitate filmmaking. An optional High Definition video system and specialised deep water housing is available extra at additional cost. An electric pan and tilt system is currently being designed and manufactured to further enhance documentary filming. Internal monitors are installed inside the pressure sphere along with interior Ikegami high definition cameras. The best feature of the double submersible operation is the ability to use one vessel for lighting and the second vehicle for filming.

Pilots and Sub Crew
Our team of 4-6 submersible pilots and engineers have spent thousands of hours working on a variety of submersibles and their combined experience is our client's best guarantee that operations will be run in a safe, professional and courteous manner.

Locations
It is anticipated that the Deep Rovers will operate in the Pacific and Indian Oceans in the next 12-18 months and will begin diving on various locations of both man-made historical significance as well as features of natural wonder and beauty. The Deep Rovers can easily be shipped or air freighted to locations around the world, complete with their own workshop container.

Additional features
Deep Ocean Expeditions LLC is open to ideas for use of the Deep Rovers. Additional science sampling equipment or filming equipment can be mounted on the vehicles at the request of clients. Presently a sophisticated suite of scientific sampling equipment is being designed for each submersible.

Deep Rover Brochure
Deep_Rover.pdf (Requires Acrobat 608k)

The Deep Rover Team
Deep_Rover_Team.pdf (Requires Acrobat 608k)