ROPOS - CREATING A SCIENTIFIC TOOL FROM AN INDUSTRIAL ROV

The Remotely-Operated Platform for Ocean Science (ROPOS) is a 5000m ca pable Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) that was based on a successful i ndustrial design. Since delivery of the original vehicle in 1986, exte nsive modifications have been undertaken to transform ROPOS into an ef fective tool for deep-sea scientific applications, in close collaborat ion with scientific users. Modifications include development of new ma nipulator controls and mechanical sampling tools suited to scientific tasks, and design and construction of a scientific telemetry system to interface with scientific instruments mounted on the vehicle. The new est ROPOS vehicle, constructed in early 1997, incorporates all previou s modifications and provides several new features including separate h ydraulic functions for scientific applications and greatly improved ve hicle and scientific telemetry systems. ROPOS is now operated by the C anadian Scientific Submersible Facility (CSSF) on a not-for-profit, us er-pay basis, in a unique partnership involving government, industry a nd universities.