Phoenix Completes Upgrade to US Navy Deep Drone ROV

By Caroline Rees / 09 Jan 2015

Smart Sourcing for Unmanned Systems

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow UST

US Navy Deep Drone ROVPhoenix International Holdings, Inc. has completed an upgrade of the U.S. Navy’s 8,000-foot depth capable remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Deep Drone. All work was performed under a multi-year contract with the U.S. Navy’s Office of Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV). The upgrade included installing a new umbilical, sonar, high definition camera, LED lighting system, an updated frame, and a new foam pack. In addition, and at the heart of the upgrade, Phoenix installed a completely new Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) based vehicle control system.

This new PLC based control system was designed to increase the vehicle’s bandwidth to accommodate advanced sensors and provide intuitive, accessible functionality to allow ROV technicians to address common software related challenges (e.g., installing and integrating new sensors to address specific operational requirements). To support the greater demand for bandwidth, the overall system design also included fiber optics throughout the vehicle and within the vehicle’s new umbilical. Additional advantages of the PLC based control system design include improved maintainability and reliability due to commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and software that are readily available and supported worldwide. Incorporated into the PLC based control system was an extensive graphical user interface (GUI) for both control and diagnostics with GUI screens. In designing the GUI, the effort focused on supporting rapid customization, including information displayed, items controlled, and layout of each GUI page. With the design in place, Phoenix engineers and technicians commenced a step-by-step process to replace Deep Drone’s legacy control system with a PLC based control system.

Work started with the development of the basic control system using simulated digital inputs and outputs. Phoenix personnel then assembled and tested the complete system, including the vehicle control station, ROV housed PLCs, and maintenance van, within a laboratory environment. This approach had the added benefit of keeping Deep Drone fully operational during the control system development process. Once fully tested in the laboratory environment, the system was tested with the vehicle operating in Phoenix’s above ground vehicle test tank. A final series of open ocean system tests were conducted aboard USNS Grasp (T-ARS-51) near Andros Island, Bahamas. During these tests, Phoenix personnel fully exercised the vehicle and its new control system. Following these successful tests, the upgrade was complete and Deep Drone was placed back into a mission-ready status.

Posted by Caroline Rees Caroline co-founded Unmanned Systems Technology and has been at the forefront of the business ever since. With a Masters Degree in marketing Caroline has her finger on the pulse of all things unmanned and is committed to showcasing the very latest in unmanned technical innovation. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

High-Energy Density Batteries for Drones & Robotic Vehicles

The SCIO Brick® platform offers industry-leading energy density in a compact and lightweight footprint, and can be scaled to meet high-voltage requirements

Jul 12, 2025
Most Read Articles on UST This Week

Here’s our round-up of the five most read articles on UnmannedSystemsTechnology.com this week

Jul 11, 2025
Vertiq Speed Firmware v0.1.1 Now Available with Bug Fixes

Vertiq has released firmware v0.1.1 to correct a parameter bug affecting telemetry and 3D mode settings on select G1 and G2 modules

Jul 11, 2025
The Role of ROVs in Unmanned Marine Operations

Oceanbotics has answered the most common questions about ROVs, covering how they work, where they're used, and key capabilities

Jul 11, 2025
LiveU File Transfer Speeds Up Drone Data Delivery for Critical Missions

LiveU’s File Transfer enables rapid transmission of large drone data files, reducing delays and supporting faster decision-making in public safety and infrastructure operations.

Jul 11, 2025
Exploring Differences Between M9PLUS & M9 GNSS Antennas

Discover the key upgrades in Maxtena’s new M9PLUS GNSS antenna, including improved performance, signal purity, and multipath mitigation over the original M9

Jul 11, 2025

Featured Content

USAF Uses Inertial Labs Drone Lidar for Tree Obstruction Survey

The US Air Force successfully used Inertial Labs drone Lidar and cloud software to quickly map tree obstructions at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), improving airfield safety

Jul 11, 2025
New UAV to Combine Solar Hydrogen & Battery Power for Extended Flight

XSun and H3 Dynamics are developing the first UAV powered by solar, hydrogen, and batteries, aiming to deliver zero-emission, long-endurance unmanned flight

Jul 07, 2025
Enhancing Mangrove Restoration Through 3D Printed Drone Design

Explore how Inverto Earth, in collaboration with HP Additive, is using sustainable 3D printing and drone technology to drive large-scale mangrove restoration and protect vulnerable coastal ecosystems

Jul 03, 2025
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.