A Vehicle for Science and Exploration: Bringing Offshore Industry Advances and Experience to the Oceanographic Community

The defining characteristics of a new NOAA ROV and its enabling technologies are explored. The NOAA system is rated to a depth of 6000 meters and can be configured as either a two body ROV and smart camera platform or as a camera platform only, depending on mission risk and sea conditions. Both the ROV and camera platform carry broadcast quality high definition cameras capable of providing high-resolution images critical to the scientist´s mission. These high definition video feeds as well as vehicle data will be available for satellite transmission for real time collaboration with scientists at shore-based locations.