| Videoray
- News - July 8, 2005
Swimming Robotic Camera
Penetrates Culvert under Runways of Miami International
Airport
Alligator Danger
Makes Inspection Too Hazardous for Humans
The engineers at Miami
International Airport were concerned.
Ground penetrating radar indicated a possible
collapse of storm water drainage culverts around
700 feet from the outlets. As with all open water
in South Florida, alligators are prevalent in
the area, so it was not possible to use human
divers to inspect it. Working Divers, of Stuart
Florida, was called in to do a visual inspection
and discover whether the problem existed, and
if so, how serious it was.
It is a challenge for Remotely Operated Vehicle
(ROV) technology to be small enough to be easily
deployed, yet powerful enough to pull this much
tether. A VideoRay
Pro III was deployed with the
Professional
Performance Package. This places
a booster battery on the submersible that allows
full thrust regardless of tether length. 1000
feet of neutrally buoyant tether was utilized.
Steve Van Meter, a consultant brought in by Working
Divers, set up the operation and operated the
tether. "It was amazing", commented
Steve. "I could have gone 1000 feet if I
needed to - there was that much thrust available
at the submersible. And - the entire mission took
about 30 minutes - one of the easiest we've ever
done."
The inspection revealed that there were no problems
with the pipe - the anomalies located by the ground
penetrating radar were caused by other factors
- perhaps differences in fill material placed
around the pipes.
For more information:
Ric Polzin - (772) 288-0228
Working Divers, Inc.
501 SW Riveredge Dr.
Stuart, FL 34994
Chris Gibson chris.gibson@videoray.com
VideoRay LLC Director, Marketing
Phone: 610.458.3000
For additional pictures and videos online , visit
http://www.videoray.com/Press_Room/press_release.htm
Contact VideoRay LLC · 400 Eagleview Blvd.
· Exton , PA 19341 USA · Phone:
(610) 458-3000 · FAX: (610) 458-3010 ·
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