Ordnance Recovery Crawler

Mine and un-exploded ordnance removal is an international concern that involves locating the potential threat, classifying it, and containing, disabling or destroying it to prevent any danger or harm. Currently, AUVs are being used to survey the seabed to detect mines; however, the tasks of classifying the mines and of containing, disabling and destroying them are left to (a) expert divers, who are placed in harm's way, and (b) traditional ROVs, which are expensive if treated as an expendable device. This paper discusses the design and development of an inexpensive (disposable) ROV and support system to remove unexploded ordnance.