The system illustrated here is of a single PC solution running off an Ethernet card.
The user would control the rov via a digital video feed on the screen using a standard joystick plugged into the game port of a personal computer. The degree of shift of the joystick is translated into a dx, dy, dz co-ordinate with the greater the movement of the joystick from the neutral position indicating a greater magnitude of thrust in that particular direction.
The problem with this method of control is that it requires some advanced software writing. Once that the code is written to control the rov, it "interprets" the rov pilot's requests. If the code should develop some bugs, as it almost always does, then the rov will start to run amok. Killing the power to the rov will merely stop it, but it won't allow the pilot to regain control. The system is also expensive and requires the use of a personal computer.
The Jacob's have come up with a simple and inexpensive alternative to the PC control system. They use a common remote control used in the world of model boating and model cars. Instead of trying to send radio waves underwater, they merely attach the radio antenna to the coaxial video cable of the rov tether. Now you have a simple and inexpensive multiplex way of controlling the rov that's much more reliable than the pc system.
We use a Futaba 9CAP remote control. It's designed for use in model boating and cars. It cost about $400.
An accessories switch is attached to the outside cover of the remote control unit and wired into one of the control dials. This accessories switch is called a Switch 8 and is made by Model Control Devices (705) 738-1335. We use the Switch 8 to turn on and off the lights among other things.
The forward and reverse thrusters are controlled by a Vantec (888) 929-5055 motor controller. This unit is used because it allows one thruster to operate in forward while the other operates in reverse. This gives the rov the ability to rotate in place as well as other boat controls.
The vertical thruster is controlled by a Speed Profi 50 Controller from Hobby Lobby International. This is a much simpler motor controller, for the verticle thruster needs to operate only up and down.
