Lost at sea: Locating and recovering underwater scientific packages with mini ROVs

Inspection class, or mini ROVs, are an alternative method to locating and retrieving lost scientific packages. ROVs can conduct safer and more efficient searches at a fraction of the cost of a diver deployment. Unencumbered by the limits of physical exhaustion or oxygen tanks, a mini ROV can search longer and deeper than a diver could. The addition of sonars and positioning systems allows the ROV to “see” in low visibility conditions and keeps track of the location of the ROV, and ultimately the device.