This video documents the project of building a new, custom Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) with the primary mission of recovering a lost homemade submarine from a lake. The narrative follows the design, construction, and testing of the ROV, highlighting technical improvements over a previous version, such as switching from an analog 8-wire system to a more efficient 3-wire Arduino-based UART control system. The creator then deploys the ROV and attempts several search methodologies, including direct visual scanning, a towed "kite" rig for systematic coverage, and finally, the use of expensive side-scan sonar. Despite these efforts, the search is fraught with challenges like poor visibility and the sonar's inability to detect the plastic submarine on the lakebed. While the ROV successfully recovers a lost boat anchor, the main objective is not met, and the submarine remains lost. The video concludes that while the recovery mission failed, the project succeeded in creating a significantly improved and functional ROV for future use.
Building an ROV to Find a Lost Submarine: Mission and Methods
0:36 Mission Objective: The goal is to build a new Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to find and recover a homemade submarine that was lost in a previous project.
1:00 Improved ROV Design: The creator improves upon his old, analog ROV by designing a new one controlled by an Arduino. This allows him to use UART communication, reducing the required tether from eight wires to just three (two for control, one for video).
3:43 Construction and Waterproofing: The ROV is constructed with 3D-printed parts, brushless motors, and lithium-ion batteries. A key feature is a custom bulkhead with brass pin pass-throughs sealed with epoxy to create a watertight seal for electrical connections.
5:04 Successful System Test: With 60 feet of tether, the completed ROV and controller are shown to be fully functional, with controls for diving, surfacing, forward/reverse movement, and turning.
6:04 First Water Trials: Initial tests in a tub reveal the ROV is too heavy and needs foam for buoyancy. Some video signal interference appears when the motors are running, an issue to be addressed later.
8:15 Deep Water Pressure Test: The ROV is successfully submerged to 40 feet in the lake without its systems powered on. It remains completely dry inside, proving the 3D-printed housing is watertight and ready for the mission.
9:05 Inefficient Visual Searching: The initial search proves difficult due to poor underwater visibility and the ROV's inability to travel in a straight line, making a systematic search pattern nearly impossible.
11:16 Side-Scan Sonar Attempt: Frustrated by the limitations of visual searching, the creator purchases an expensive side-scan sonar fish-finder, hoping it will definitively locate the large plastic submarine on the lakebed.
12:58 Sonar Proves Ineffective: Testing reveals a critical flaw in the sonar plan. While the sonar can detect objects suspended in the water, the plastic submarine becomes invisible to the sonar once it settles on the silty bottom, rendering the technology useless for this recovery.
15:16 Unexpected Discoveries: While searching, the ROV gets snagged on an underwater line, which leads to the accidental discovery and recovery of a lost boat anchor.
16:09 Mission Unsuccessful: After extensive searching with multiple methods, the lost submarine is not found. The creator speculates that it may have floated to shore and been picked up by someone else or remains hidden on the bottom.
17:28 Project Success, Mission Failure: Although the primary mission to find the submarine failed, the project is considered a success because it resulted in the creation of a new, well-built, and highly capable ROV for future underwater projects.