Patent ID: 7707958
Filing Date: 2010-05-04
Classification: B63C,B63G,B63H

Abstract:
1. A remotely operated underwater vehicle comprising: a case; two thrusters positioned on either side of said case, each operable to generate a thrust, a first thruster of said two thrusters including a first drive motor operatively coupled to a first propeller, a second thruster of said two thrusters including a second drive motor operatively coupled to a second propeller, said first and second drive motors attached to said case, and said first and second propellers being rotatable relative to the case between horizontal and vertical positions; a rotatable support for supporting each of said first and second propellers for rotation between said horizontal and vertical positions; a drive mechanism for rotating said rotatable support to selectively vary in unison the direction of thrust of said two thrusters to control the direction of movement of the underwater vehicle; each of said first and second propellers being independently driven to control the speed and lateral direction of the underwater vehicle; a base station; control electronics at said case; a tether operably connecting said base station to said control electronics; said tether is unshielded and consists of four pairs of twisted wire; and a camera attached to said case, said camera operatively connected to said control electronics and producing a video signal, said video signal being transmitted from said control electronics to said base station on a first pair of twisted wire of said four pairs of twisted wire.