Professional divers have always faced enormous risks inspecting oil and gas pipelines, high-voltage power lines, wind turbines, and other critical infrastructure on the seabed. Saab has eliminated this risk by leveraging its seabed expertise in commercial underwater applications.
With the goal of protecting people and society, the development of the Seaeye ROV range is based on the design of more agile and modular systems. Saab's Seaeye systems are capable of performing a wide variety of tasks, from observation and inspection to more complex functions such as underwater maintenance.
This evolution has culminated in the development of the world's first fully electric operational ROV (eWROV), characterized by its versatility and maneuverability. Unlike traditional hydraulic ROVs, the eWROV eliminates the need for hydraulic fluid, thus reducing environmental risks.
eWROV: A fully electric ROV.
In the face of a booming ocean economy, Saab's eWROV competes with traditional hydraulic ROVs, offering performance equivalent to a 250 hp underwater vehicle. The eWROV uses limited hydraulic systems and an environmentally friendly oil, eliminating the risk of accidental spills of pollutants into the ocean that could harm the surrounding ecosystem.
Adopting electric propulsion offers several advantages. First, reliability is greatly improved with fewer high-pressure systems, thus extending the time between maintenance tasks through self-diagnostics.
High-density modular power supply enables a scalable and compact design.
The main specifications for the eWROV's power converter are size, mass, and heat dissipation because the electronics are housed within airtight enclosures where space is at a premium and conventional convection cooling is not feasible.
To meet these requirements, Saab selected Vicor power modules for their high density and efficiency. These modules facilitate efficient distributed power delivery to various subsystems in the eWROV, such as propellers, manipulators, and onboard electronics. Vicor power modules allow Saab to adapt the Seaeye subsystems to the standard 24V and 48V levels required by the vehicle's computers, sensors, video cameras, lights, and navigation equipment.
