Scientists Discover Electric Leopard ROV
Marine scientists are discovering the Leopard electric underwater robotic vehicle from Saab Seaeye for complex and varied research projects. These projects range from cold-water coral studies to environmental monitoring, biodiversity research and tsunami warning systems.
Tokyo University says that technological advances in underwater robotics systems, as found in the Leopard, are making a wider range of tasks more possible. Studies in Japan are using the Leopard to examine the biodiversity surrounding hydrothermal vent activity in order to protect the inter-connecting ecosystems around mineral extraction sites.
They are also using the Leopard to help enhance the tsunami early warning seismographic monitoring system on the sea floor with the installation of 45 kilometres of new sensors and transponders.
In addition to cameras, sensors and manipulators, samples can be gathered and stored in a recovery skid mounted beneath the Leopard where a sample box with several discrete compartments for samples can be opened and closed hydraulically and a two-line laser on the pan and tilt unit used for size calibration of objects on the seafloor.
