Servo - July 2010

Meet the ROVs

No matter which task is at hand or claw, one of the workhorse ROVs used throughout the response effort was the Triton. The Triton line of ROVs are designed and manufactured by Perry Slingsby Systems (PSS) which is a subsidiary of subsea technology and services giant, Triton Group. Featuring a strong lineup of heavy duty work ROVs, PSS unveiled a new lightweight Triton system — the Triton XLR — in late 2009 that was a curious departure from earlier models.

This departure was explained in a statement released by Triton Group CEO, Martin Anderson: "The Triton XLR is the next step in the evolution of subsea systems which started with the XL. Our aim was to create an innovative system which offers the utmost in efficiency and reliability for the lightweight end of the market.

"The industries in which we operate are in a state of continual change and the requirement for new design and engineering innovations is constant. Market driven research and development underlies all of our current and potential future products, ensuring our expertise is applied to the areas today which will take our business — and our customer’s business — to where it needs to be tomorrow.

"PSS has led the industry in all respects and continues to do so today with advanced, robust, and dependable ROVs in the world."

Following that 2009 release, there are now three ROV models in the PSS Triton lineup:

Triton® XLR 100/125

A medium-duty work-class ROV. Described as the "baby brother" to the heavy-duty Triton XLX, this 125 hp ROV was designed for undersea drill and light construction tasks with a state-of-the-art integrated real-time control engine (ICE) featuring a GUI and ergonomic pilot (operator) control console with touch screen operation.

NOTE: At press time, no Triton XLR ROVs had been used in the Deepwater Horizon response.

Vehicle Specifications
Dimensions: 2,780 mm x 1,500 mm x 1,800 mm
Weight in air: 2,850/3,450 kg
Depth rating: 2,000/3,000/4,000 meters
Payload: 150 kg
Horsepower: 100/125 hp
Tooling Packages
Three cameras
Tritech intelligent gyro compass
Digiquartz depth sensor
6 x 250 watt lights
Electric pan/tilt unit
12 Station main manifold
Two Off thruster manifolds
Piloted high-flow tooling manifold
Seven-Function manipulator
Five-Function grabber

Triton® XLS

A heavy-duty work-class ROV. Featuring heavy-lift 750 meter tether management system (TMS) and fitted with a Schilling seven-function Titan 4 (T4) and five-function rigmaster manipulators, the XLS is supported with a specialized Dynacon 6022 launch and recovery system.

Vehicle Specifications
Dimensions: 3,000 mm x 1,850 mm x 1,890 mm
Weight in air: 4,400 kg
Depth rating: 3,000/4,000 meters
Payload: 300 kg
Horsepower: 150 hp
Tooling Packages
Gyro/Fluxgate compass
Pitch/Roll sensor
Digiquartz depth
Doppler velocity
General function valve pack
Lighting system
Left/Right manipulator
Sonar
Hydraulic tool interfaces