General |
| Low vehicle weight |
The LBV has a low in air weight of 12 kg (26.5lbs) making it easy to carry and deploy. |
| Ideal mass |
The weight may be low but it has been calculated to be ideal in terms of offering stable positioning. When operating the LBV is able to hold position without being affected greatly by the umbilical drag. Many small ROVs are controlled by the umbilical. |
| Power to weight ratio |
The LBV has an excellent power to weight ratio enabling it to perform well in many conditions and over come drag. |
| Power to low drag |
The added power, small LBV and extremely small diameter umbilical make the LBV the most capable ROV in its class. |
| Protective shell |
The LBV systems are housed in a protective shell. Internal components like thrusters, flotation module, power can and camera housing are protected from the harsh environment. |
| Hydrodynamic shell design |
In addition to the protection the shell offers a more hydrodynamic shape through the water. This increase efficiency which means more capable. |
| Protective bumper frame |
Each LBV has a polyethylene bumper frame to offer further protection. Also, the bumper frame is used for mounting some options as well as the ballast weight. |
| Balanced design |
With the flotation high and the ballast low and wide the LBV is very stable. |
| Adjustable ballast |
Ballast weight (lead) is easily adjustable on the bumper frame to trim for various conditions and options. |
| Rugged housing |
The main camera housing and power can are constructed from hi strength materials. Using composites and aluminum the LBV is strong enough for years of operation and rough use. |
| Intuitive design |
The LBV is intuitively designed to enable virtually any level of expertise service and maintain the LBV. |
| Flexible platform |
Each LBV is ready for options to suit the user. Keeping the system fully integrated each option is special designed to fit the LBV with minimal if any impact on the performance. |
| Many options |
There is a long list of standard options and many that SeaBotix is willing and able to develop. |
| Modular boards |
The LBV systems utilize a motherboard - daughter board configuration. Should a fault occur a single board can be replaced. This keeps cost down. |
| Sophisticated electronics |
LBV is fitted with state of the art electronics. They offer more features than other small ROVs and enable many of the unique features of the LBV possible. |
Thrusters |
| 4-axis control |
LBV is fitted with forward thrusters, vertical and lateral. This configuration enables movement in forward, reverse, surface (up), dive (down), rotate left, rotate right, lateral left and lateral right. The lateral movement is important during inspections and not found on all small ROVs. |
| Powerful thrusters |
Each LBV thruster has a minimum Bollard thrust of 4.5kgf (9.9lbs) resulting in the ability to overcome drag and operate in strong currents. A ROV with no enough power has difficulty operating in real world conditions. |
| Variable thruster gain settings |
The LBV thrusters have the ability to vary the gain from 10% to 100% total power. This allows the operator to fine tune the LBV thrusters to the conditions. |
| 32 step joystick |
Providing very fine control the LBV control joystick has 32 steps. Enables precise control of the LBV. |
| Variable vertical control |
A knob located on the side of the hand controller provides variable control of the vertical thruster. |
| Isolated thrusters |
Each thruster is isolated from the other as well as the main housing. Should a problem occur the rest of the LBV is not damaged. Simply replace the thruster. Thruster replacement only takes a few minutes at any skill level. |
| Identical thrusters |
Each thruster is identical so that they can be interchanged and only a single spare is required. |
| Kort nozzle |
Each thruster has a type 37 Kort nozzle that increases efficiency and also straightens the water flow to reduce torque steer. In addition, the screen provides protection from fowling and fingers getting caught. |
| Thruster over current protection |
Each thruster is fitted with a protective circuit to keep from damage should something get stuck in the propeller. Sensing the over current the thruster is shut down immediately. Remove the obstruction and away you go. |
| Thruster shaft seal lubrication |
The double o-ring seal on each thruster is filled with a special grease to keep the shaft cool and lubricated. |
Cameras & Lighting |
| 270 degree field of view |
Inside the camera housing is a rotating camera chassis. The camera chassis rotates 180 degrees per camera. When combined with the 90 degree field of view from the camera lens total field of view is 270 degrees per camera. This enables looking straight up and back and straight down and back. |
| Camera angle indicator |
To keep track of the angle of the camera chassis an on screen indicator is standard. Shown in 5 degree increments from -90 to +90 with 0 being straight ahead. |
| 570 line high resolution color camera |
Each LBV is fitted with a high resolution 570 horizontal line color camera. The cameras use a single Sony Super HAD CCD for image collection and a 2.9mm lens. Image quality is excellent. |
| Low light requirement |
The color camera has a low light level requirement of only 0.2 Lux. |
| Manual focus |
The focal range is from 90mm to infinity and easily controlled from the hand controller. |
| 2nd forward camera |
All but the LBV150BE2 system are fitted with a 2nd forward facing low light black and white camera. Mounted almost perpendicular to the color camera. |
| Low light camera |
The black and white camera is a very low light 0.03 Lux camera. This is useful when there is turbidity in the water causing refraction from lighting. Simply push the camera button on the hand controller to switch between the two cameras. |
| Camera auto rotate |
The operator can select the auto rotate function to have both cameras rotate to the exact same view position when the camera button is selected. Or have one looking straight ahead and one looking down. |
| Light tracking color camera |
LBV systems have an internal light mounted next to the camera. The light then tracks the camera through the 270 degree field of vision. Fixed lighting is useless when looking straight up or straight down. |
| Variable intensity lighting |
The internal lighting can be varied in intensity from the hand controller. |
Sensors & Auto Functions |
| High resolution depth sensor |
Each LBV has a high resolution depth sensor that provides accurate and stable depth data. This data is displayed on the on screen overlay. |
| High resolution heading sensor |
The same as the depth sensor the LBV systems are fitted with a high resolution magnetic compass heading. Also displayed on the on screen display. |
| Temperature sensor |
With the depth sensor is a temperature sensor providing accurate in water temperature to the on screen display. |
| Audio |
There is a small microphone mounted internally in the LBV. This audio feedback is useful when operating the LBV. |
| Internal temperature |
In addition to the external temperature the LBV has an internal temperature reading. The internal temperature is monitored in the event of over temp and can be displayed on screen. |
| Auto depth |
Using the high resolution depth sensor the LBV has an auto depth function. When on (selected on the hand controller) the LBV will maintain an accurate depth. |
| Auto heading |
In addition to the auto depth the LBV has auto heading. Simply select auto heading on the hand controller and the LBV will maintain the desired heading. |
| Trim |
Trim is a useful feature locking in any thruster command. Like cruise control on a car when a desired thruster input is set the trim function then maintains the command without the need to manually hold the command. |
Umbilical |
| Very small diameter umbilical |
The LBV uses one of the smallest diameter umbilicals on the market. This is the single biggest improvement to performance of a ROV as it represents the highest drag. LBV umbilical is an amazing 8mm in diameter as compared to 10mm of the nearest competitor. |
| Neutral in fresh water |
The umbilical is neutral in fresh water and only slightly positive in sea water. |
| Strong |
The umbilical has a working load of 45 kg (100lbs) and a breaking strain of 318 kgf (700lbs). |
| Easy to terminate |
Should the umbilical be cut it is easy to terminate with only two conductors and a shield. |
| Highly visible |
The unique green color makes the umbilical easy to see. |
| Flexible |
The umbilical is very flexible making it easier to handle and less impact on the LBV. |
| Lengths to 750 meters (2,460ft) |
LBV systems can be available with umbilical lengths up to 750 meters (2,460ft). |
Controls |
| Intuitive hand controller |
The LBV is controlled via an intuitive hand controller. All controls are at your finger tips. The design using a single stick joystick (with rotate), vertical thruster control knob and membrane keypad make the LBV very simple to operate. The keys are embossed and after a short time the operator does not need to look at the controls. |
| Lightweight controller |
The lightweight controller allows the operator to hold it comfortably in any position. |
| Comprehensive controls |
There are controls for thruster gain settings, camera tilt, camera focus, camera switch, overlay position, light on/off, light intensity, accessory operation, programming and of course thruster controls. |
| Integrated console |
All but the LBV150B2 system come with an integrated console. A protective case houses the surface power supply, hand controller and optional monitor. The hand controller can be used in the lower tray or removed and held. |
On Screen Information Display |
| Video overlay |
Each LBV comes with an information display on screen. Having the information on screen enables the operator to focus on the imagery and not lose position. Also, the information can be recorded with the video. |
| Necessary data |
All the key data is displayed including depth, heading, turns counter, thruster gain, light level, trim on/off, time, date, temperature. |
| User text |
Operators can program up to 28 characters of their own information. This text is displayed opposite the primary data. |
| Alternate position |
Operators can select if they want the information at the bottom of the screen, top of the screen or off. Done by pushing a button on the hand controller. |
| Menus |
There are comprehensive menus to setup, diagnose, calibrate and option the LBV. The intuitive steps enable the operator to set the LBV up properly, calibrate the sensors, diagnose faults and select options. |
| Inverted camera tilt |
One option is the ability to invert the camera tilt keys. People from an aviation background tend to prefer this setup. |
| Hours run |
The on screen display can show how many hours the LBV has been on. |
| Software version |
Under the diagnostics the operator can check the software installed to make sure it is up to date. |
| Calibrating sensors |
Each of the sensors can be calibrated for accuracy and variations with the simple intuitive menus. |
| Metric or Imperial |
All data can be displayed in either the Metric system or the Imperial system. Also, depth can be fresh or sea water. |
Power Supply |
| International input |
Each LBV system can accept power anywhere in the world. Simply move a small plug to select either a 100-130VAC or 200-240VAC range. |
| Isolated input |
The LBV power supply uses an isolation transformer for the input AC power. |
| Protective circuitry |
The LBV power supply is fitted with several protective circuits like circuit breaker, (L.I.M.) line insulation monitor and leak detection. |
| Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Electricity in Water compliant |
Any voltage in the umbilical or ROV over 30VDC is considered lethal and therefore requires several safety devices. LBV has all and more. It is fully compliant with the regulations and safe for the operator and anyone around. |
Software |
| Sophisticated software |
The LBV has a sophisticated software program making the system more capable, more intuitive, more reliable and more customizable. |
| Free software updates |
SeaBotix continually improves the software in the LBV and when new updates are available the operator can easily download and install without having to send the system away. |
Spares, tools and Manuals |
| Comprehensive spares kit |
Each LBV comes with a spares kit that includes the common items such as seals, fasteners, propellers, light bulbs and more. This way the operator can maintain the LBV in the field. |
| Spare thruster |
The most dynamic part of a ROV is the thruster. Therefore the LBV is supplied with a spare that can be used in any position. Changing is simple. |
| Tool kit |
The LBV also comes with a complete tool kit to work on virtually any part of the LB. |
| Vacuum pump |
A vacuum pump is supplied to enable the operator to check the seal integrity of the main housing or thrusters. |
| Operators manual |
A complete operators manual is supplied. |
| CD-ROM |
A CD-ROM containing comprehensive manuals is supplied. |
Cases |
| Protective cases |
Each LBV system comes with a set of protective transit cases. |
| Handle and wheels |
Each case has a set of wheels and a retractable handle for easy transportation. |
| Airline compliant |
The cases can be taken on commercial planes. |
Custom foam |
Each case has custom cut closed cell foam securely holding all components. |
