Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Marine Operations
Vessels and Vehicles - ROV Tiburon

A unique remotely operated vehicle

Tiburon is a unique new ROV developed at MBARI. The system breaks new ground in providing an integrated unmanned submersible research platform, with many powerful features providing efficient, reliable and precise sampling and data collection in a wide range of missions.

tiburon1.jpg (48333 bytes)

Features include:

  • Modular, mission-specific toolsled packages that can be changed out quickly and easily.
  • High resolution video cameras with zoom and pan/tilt. Fiber optic telemetry.
  • Powerful electric thrusters to combine precise control, high thrust levels and relatively quiet operational capabilities.
  • Variable buoyancy system to allow neutral buoyancy at all depths and during sampling operations.
  • Scientific sensors and data logging integrated into the core vehicle system.

Provision for placement, servicing and retrieval of bottom-mounted instrument packages.

Tiburon is operated from MBARI's SWATH research vessel, the R/V Western Flyer. Together these systems represent an important new asset to the ocean science community.

 

Last updated: Jul. 16, 2008