Post-Run Cleaning And Maintenance Of The Rov System - SeaPerch Remotely Operated Vehicle Construction Manual

SeaPerch ROV Construction Manual – Version 2010-04NW
Courteous and Careful Driving. When multiple ROVs are in the water
together, the importance of paying attention to ROV movements increases,
particularly when non-momentary switches are used for the horizontal
thrusters (which can make it easy to leave thrusters energized longer than
desired). An ROV can travel significant distances, possibly into the path of
another, in just a few seconds, so good attentiveness is essential when they
are underway. An ROV should never be allowed to run into another ROV
("bumper-cars" fashion), which could damage the propellers or other vehicle
parts. Operators should always pay close attention to the locations of their
tether cables, to avoid getting them tangled with the tethers of other ROVs.
Similarly, when moving through openings or around obstacles, the ROV's
operator and tether manager should plan for the fact that they will usually
need to bring the ROV back out the way it went in.

Post-Run Cleaning and Maintenance of the ROV System

Post-Run Cleaning. The ROV should always be rinsed thoroughly with fresh
water after use. Pool water as well as saltwater can be corrosive to thrusters
and other metal parts. Biologic or other materials picked up in natural marine
environments can be damaging and difficult to clean off later if left to dry on
the ROV. In addition to rinsing the vehicle and cleaning off any debris, it is
helpful to submerge it in a tub of fresh water and run the thrusters for a few
moments, to better clear corrosive materials from the motor shafts.
Immediately treating the shaft areas with a protective material such as WD-40
spray and allowing the vehicles to dry before storage is recommended. Even
if the ROV will be disassembled to have its parts reutilized for future ROVs,
having clean parts that are free from corrosive materials and contaminants is
important. In such cases, the used thrusters can provide valuable spares, so
they should be cleaned carefully.
Battery Maintenance. The lead acid batteries normally used with SeaPerch
ROVs should be kept in a fully-charged condition for maximum service life.
Always recharge the batteries with the recommended charger and charging
method soon after use, and then keep them "float" charged if possible while in
storage, with a charger designed for that purpose. This is particularly
important when they won't be used again for many months. The batteries can
last for a number of years if maintained properly.
U-3