Merced, CA (KFSN) -- Merced County has a new underwater tool designed to do everything from search and rescue missions to homeland security inspections.

The sheriff's department recently used federal grant money to buy an underwater robot. This week deputies took it to Lake Yosemite for a unique training opportunity, and they invited us to go along.

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The relationship between SeaBotix and the Swedish Armed Forces began several years ago when an airplane wreck was discovered. An effort was put forth to conduct a survey of the wreck both externally and internally. Research into small ROVs suitable for internal penetrations led the Swedish government to SeaBotix, where they acquired a LBV150SE system.

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SeaBotix LBV owner Gary Montemayor establishs deep water ROV tourism in the Cayman Islands. The luxury yacht "Deep Seeker" is built to provide tourists with deep water real time interaction with marine life at depths to 600 meters. A well equipped yacht with Plasma TVs and full LBV600XL deep water system.

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Then Captain Philip G. Renaud of the Living Oceans Foundation, limited in budget and anxious for the best equipment he could muster for a Red Sea coral research expedition, decided to dust off the cases and contact SeaBotix to figure out how to get the system back in the field. SeaBotix personnel encouraged him to take advantage of their standard 3-day training package in San Diego. They could bring their LBV along and the Service department would give it any needed upgrades to improve reliability and performance while assisting the trainees in corrective maintenance to fix the intermittent issue.

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SeaBotix now offers the full line of LBV systems equipped with the powerful and reliable HPDC1502 Brushless DC thruster, from the entry level LBV150BE to the deep water LBV600XL. The proprietary design has an output of 4.5 kgf Bollard thrust, is oil-compensated and offers onscreen diagnostics.

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SeaBotix Inc. is pleased to announce our relocation to over 17,000 square feet at our state-of-the-art, waterfront facilities located on the redeveloped former Naval Training Center now known as Liberty Station.

The facilities - 2 adjacent buildings - will almost triple our operating space. The operations building includes a massive production and service area, a training center, QA room, machine shop, dark room water tank, automated ROV testing station, lunch room, a large warehouse, as well as our Director of Operations and staff offices.

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Researchers on the third-largest atoll in the world, the Saba Bank in the Netherlands Antilles, have discovered and collected two new species of soft corals (gorgonians) and documented severe anchor damage with the aid of a SeaBotix LBV200L ROV. Experts from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Universidad de los Andes in Colombia, and the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami collected 40 species of soft corals, seventeen of which were collected using the LBV.

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Members of the San Diego Harbor Police successfully completed comprehensive training on their new LBV200L at the SeaBotix facility and San Diego Harbor They selected 3 days of training for 4 personnel, consisting of comprehensive maintenance, service and piloting skills. Even with their proximity to the SeaBotix facility, they understand that proper training and equipment knowledge is vital for mission-critical applications.

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Performing hydroelectric inspections on budget while reducing hazards for divers and their support team is key to the long-term success of any underwater service company. Glenn Underwater Services, Inc. is saving time expenses, reducing hazards, and greatly expanding their capabilities by utilizing the SeaBotix LBV200L2 Mini Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to inspect hydroelectric dams.

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SeaBotix has established a full factory owned facility in Perth, Australia. Director of Marketing and Sales has been in Australia for several years now, however, the move to setup a full office has come from the widespread success globally and Australia. With 60 systems now in operation throughout Australia and New Zealand the justification for an office was warranted.

The new office offers full technical support, service, training, sales and hire systems. Located on the west coast of Australia the new facility is equipped with a full workshop, office, stock and three meter deep test tank. The obvious benefit to those in the southern hemisphere are rapid response to inquiries and service. With full spares on hand SeaBotix Australia can quickly respond to client's needs.

Australia has been a very popular country for the LBV. With 60 units now in operation the LBV has become the most sold ROV in Australia. One of the many benefits is the localized support over other ROV companies. Plus the addition of full service, training and hire systems.

SeaBotix has developed a new attachment for the grabber. The new guillotine style cutter offers a high strength cutting capability to the LBV. Easily fitted to the Generation 2 grabbers the 20mm opening is easy to trap a line with. Once trapped the cutter slices through rope/line with ease.

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