ROPOS

ROPOS

The Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility operates the ROV ROPOS. The CSSF started operating ROPOS in 1996 and purchased a new ROPOS vehicle in 1977.The ISE created the original ROPOS in 1986. Four major research projects use the ROPOS, and include Mid-Ocean Ridges and Volcanoes; Habitat Surveys; Gas Hydrates; and Cabled Seafloor Observatories studies. The ROPOS cruised 21 major trips to the mid- ocean and black- arc ridge and 31 major surveys for ecological and biological purposes. On 13 cruises, the ROPOS found 95 subduction zones and on nine other cruises had 83 cables seafloor observations. In addition, ROPOS performs search and recovery missions. Forty-four marine engineering and recovery dives have occurred because of ROPOS. ROPOS assisted in the investigation of the sinking of the BC Ferry, Queen of the North. 

ROPOS weighs 6000 pounds and has the dimensions five feet wide by nine feet long by seven feet high. This remotely operated vehicle is able to explore depths of 5000 meters and has two modes of operation. It can operate in shallow water or deep water depending on the type of exploration. ROPOS is equipped with two digital video cameras, two manipulator arms, each of which can carry 600 pounds, stainless steel jaws, manipulator feedback sensors, rope cutters, snap hooks, and core tubes, a variable-speed suction sampler and rotating sampling tray; sonar; and a telemetry system. For specific missions, ROPOS can also be equipped with hot-fluid sampler, chemical scanner, tubeworm stainer, rock-coring drill, rock-cutting chainsaw, laser-illuminated, range gated camera, and downward-looking digital scanning sonar.

Work Cited"ROPOS System Overview." Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility. Web. 17 Oct. 2010. .
"NOAA Ocean Explorer: ROPOS." NOAA, Ocean Explorer. Web. 17 Oct. 2010. .