With three ports, the Blueye X3 can handle multiple accessories simultaneously, enabling you to outfit the drone for complex missions.
Additionally, all accessories are easy to connect, making it fast and flexible to adapt your ROV to underwater requirements.
Furthermore, the integration with the Blueye app allows for seamless control of the equipment, so you don't need to rely on separate software to operate the sensors, making the system even more user-friendly and efficient.
In this article, we will explore various accessories that can be mounted on the Blueye X3 to expand its functionality and address different needs in underwater missions. From gripper and sonars to navigation aids and sensors, we will look at how you can customize your ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle).
List of accessories to go with the Blueye ROV:
Grippers and manipulators
With a gripper attached to the ROV, you can perform tasks like retrieving objects from the seabed, pulling cables and ropes, attaching lines, or untangling the drone's tether if it becomes caught.
Blueye Robotics offers two options for grippers and manipulators: the Newton Subsea ROV Gripper and the Reach Alpha 2-Axis Gripper. Both models allow interchangeable end effectors for different tasks. The Reach Alpha has an advantage with its ability to rotate, providing additional flexibility and precision underwater. This flexibility can be crucial in complex tasks that require a greater range of movement and control. A high-quality gripper can be the difference between a successful mission and a missed opportunity.
Sonars
Sonars are invaluable for navigating or locating objects in unclear water or areas with limited visibility. Equipped with a sonar, the Blueye X3 can provide detailed maps and images of the environment around the ROV, which can greatly aid in inspections, rescue missions, or searches for specific objects.
Blueye Robotics offer various sonar options, including the Oculus Multibeam Sonar and the Micron Gemini Multibeam Sonar, both of which provide high-resolution imaging and can be customized for different operating conditions. The Oculus Multibeam Sonar is positioned on a skid below the ROV with a tilting functionality, allowing for great flexibility and visibility from different angles. Meanwhile, the Micron Gemini Multibeam Sonar is mounted on top of the ROV. Both sonars offer unique advantages depending on mission requirements and the underwater environment.
Additional sonar options include:
- ISS360 Sonar: The ISS360 Imaging Sonar has an impressive range of up to 90 meters, delivering clear images for navigation and object searches in diverse underwater missions.
- Ping360 Scanning Imaging Sonar: A mechanical scanning sonar with a range of 50 meters and a depth rating of 300 meters, ideal for navigation and high-detailed mapping of underwater environments.
- Ping Sonar Altimeter and Echosounder: This single-beam echosounder can measure distances up to 50 meters underwater. The innovative 'Auto-Altitude' control mode allows the ROV to maintain a consistent distance from the seabed, even as depth changes.
These sonars provide valuable additional functionality to the Blueye X3, enhancing navigation and object detection in challenging conditions.
Lights and cameras
Good lighting and camera equipment are essential for capturing images and videos underwater. Additional lighting can be mounted on the Blueye X3 for improved visibility, even at great depths. The combination of external lighting and cameras enables the operator to adapt the ROV to specific lighting conditions on-site and document underwater missions in high quality.
Blueye offers an external light and camera combo package, providing 3000 lumens of extra brightness and an additional camera angle. This combination shares a single Smart Connector plug, maximizing functionality without taking up additional ports on the drone. This is ideal for missions in areas with low natural light or for gaining a broader perspective during inspections and surveys.
Navigation and positioning
Navigation and position tools like DVL (Doppler Velocity Logger) and USBL (Ultra-Short Baseline) make it easier to track the ROV's position and movement underwater. DVL helps maintain stable operation with features like 'Station Keeping' and 'Auto-Altitude', and it also supports navigation by using dead reckoning, providing a track of the ROV's path during the dive. The DVL measures the ROV's speed and direction by sending sound waves toward the seabed and analyzing the returning echoes. The USBL system, with its compact design, combines multiple transducers to determine the direction and distance of a sound source.
Blueye Robotics offers two navigation/positioning systems: the DVL A50 from Water Linked and the USBL Positioning System from SeaTrac. These tools provide reliable control for mapping and mission execution regardless of water conditions or visibility.
Additionally, by using one of these positioning systems, you can take advantage of the new Mission planning feature. Below is an example of a mission plan in the Blueye app, where instructions can be easily added, removed, relocated, or edited.
Sensors and instruments
Other advanced sensors and instruments can also be integrated with the Blueye X3. Up till now, we have sensors covering measurements of water quality, cathodic protection, steel thickness and radioactive mass. These additions transform the ROV into a versatile tool for research, environmental monitoring, and technical inspections, providing a comprehensive view of the underwater environment with accurate and reliable data.
The sensors and instruments Blueye Robotics offers:
- Aqua TROLL 500 Multiparameter Sonde: This multiparameter probe measures water quality based on numerous parameters, supporting up to four simultaneously for detailed and precise information.
- Cygnus Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge: This gauge allows for easy thickness measurements of underwater surfaces without divers or dry-docking, ideal for Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) and Underwater Inspections in Lieu of Dry-Docking (UWILD).
- DigiCP Cathodic Protection Probe: This probe monitors and assesses corrosion on underwater metal structures, safeguarding the integrity of critical infrastructure.
- Medusa Radiometrics Gamma Sensor: Designed for deepwater use, this sensor detects gamma radiation, perfect for pipeline inspections with radioactive sources.
These sensors and instruments enable you to conduct comprehensive surveys and gather data about the underwater environment, enhancing the quality and reliability of the information collected during operations.
Optimize your underwater operations with Blueye X3
The accessories available for the Blueye X3 make it a highly adaptable tool capable of meeting various underwater mission needs, whether to do research, inspections, search or rescue. By choosing the right accessories, you can customize your ROV for specific challenges, ensuring better data collection and improved efficiency. You can optimize your underwater operations with Blueye X3 - no matter the mission!
Curious about our equipment or want to learn more about the Blueye X3? Feel free to contact us!
