Post-Dive Operations - VideoRay MSS Defender Operator's Manual

Buoyancy Check and Adjustment
To determine if the buoyancy is correct, lower the ROV and at least 3 meters (10 feet) of tether into the
water. You can lower the ROV by the tether - it will not hurt the tether because there is Kevlar in it.
Observe the ROV in the water - it should not be floating too high or sink. It should also be floating level
and not tipped to one side or pitched up or down. If the ROV floats too high, you will need to add some
ballast weights. If the ROV sinks, you will need to remove some ballast weights. If the ROV is not
floating level, you can change the locations of the weights.
The buoyancy can be adjusted by adding or removing the supplied ballast weights to the vehicle. The
weights can be added to or removed from the slots by hand. For most operations, the weights should
be evenly distributed to provide a balanced attitude of the ROV in water.
Commence the Dive
Once the buoyancy has been adjusted the ROV is ready to launch. Lower it into the water and operate
the controls to maneuver it. The ROV can be lowered using the tether.
Start with the ROV on the surface and push the joystick forward slightly to make the ROV move
forward. Move the joystick to the left or right to make it turn left or right. Get a feel for how agile
the ROV is.
Observe the video display as well as the ROV to become acquainted with the camera's wide
angle lens and its affect on depth perception underwater.
Once you feel comfortable with the horizontal maneuverability of the ROV, rotate the depth
control knob to dive the ROV. Tilt the camera down as you dive so you can see towards the
bottom. Rotate the depth control knob to bring the ROV back to the surface. Tilt the camera up
as you surface so you can see towards the surface.
Change the lights settings, and adjust the camera focus. If you have a manipulator, tilt the
camera down so you can see it and open and close the jaws.
As you get familiar with maneuvering the ROV, you can start to observe some of the on-screen
displays including the depth, heading, camera settings and other data.
For your first dives, practice until you are comfortable operating the controls without looking at them
and you are able to control the ROV with some precision.
See the Hand Controller
hand controller and see the
the MSS.
Automated Flight Operations
Automated flight operations require additional configuration and tuning to ensure accurate flight
dynamics and control. See the
Practice Makes Perfect
Developing the skills to operate your MSS Defender like an expert may take some time. Practicing on
a regular basis is highly recommended.

Post-Dive Operations

At the conclusion of your dive, retrieve the VideoRay and power down the system by closing VideoRay
Balefire software, turning off the ROV power switch, shutting down the computer and then turning off
the main power switch.. Make sure the ROV is secure before disconnecting the tether. After
disconnecting the tether, keep the tether connectors clean and do not let them drag on the ground.
section of the Equipment Guide
Piloting section of the Operations Guide
Automated Flight Operations
for complete information about using the
for more advanced tips on piloting
section for more details.