Ice ROV

thingiverse

WORK IN PROGRESS.... Ok, so this is a project I am wanting to do in the near future. The cad file I really dont suggest downloading quite yet. The basic idea for the project was to have a ROV that could fit down a 6 inch ice fishing hole. as 6 inch is the most common auger size for ice fishing. The only parts from the cad file I plan on printing is the pass through 4 way connectors. They are measured out so that a 3/8th inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe can slide through them and connect on either side. Technically with these connectors you could make any size ROV and put pool noodles on the pipes for extra flotation. The overall plan is to have a ice fishing camera mounted where the penguin is in the cad file picture. since ice fishing cameras are already waterproof and have a sturdy cable that reach 50 or 100 ft that should be more then enough for searching the sandy bottom. Off of the white T connector in front. (Honestly I'd probably buy the T connectors) you can add on a piece of pvc with a drag hook or even add a small arm with a gripper. The idea is you can collect things that people have dropped down their ice fishing hole for them. At least thats what my intentions were. The 3 motors I was going to run off of a 12V power source as that is what the fish camera uses as well. I would like to wire them up to reversible speed controllers that would be housed in a DIY dry box represented by the red box in the rear of the ROV. The motors would give forward, reverse, and rotation left and right. the motor positioned vertically would provide the up and down control The dry box would have a wired transmitter in it and the wires coming out would be heat shrunk the entire length of the 50 ft camera cable.on the rear top cross piece (not shown in cad drawing ) this wire, and the fish cam wire would go through a loop on the rear cross member where a rope will be tied. give a few inches of slack to the camera and dry box cables and proceed to zip tie the 3 together every couple ft. The intentions of above are to have the "lifeline" to pull the ROV back while not pulling on the control or camera wire alone as to not damage them.the slack at the ROV allows the cable to flex in all directions without pulling on the cables. This is a work in progress. I am working on collecting the parts for it. Parts list. 3 12v dc motors with reversible control wired transmitter receiver 3 3 position rocker switches or a RC controller. a fish camera with 50+ ft of cable. 4 16+inch piece of Schedule 40 3/8 inch pvc. 8 end caps for PVC. I'll see how things go with the build. I want to attach lights to it as well and its also something I can use from shore or my small boat to search the bottom for things people have lost. and maybe spot some big fish in the process. Update: I posted the connector. everything else is a store bought item. I recommend keeping it in this orientation. with the through hole vertical. and I highly recommend use of supports for the side tubes to make sure they keep their shape. I'll eventually make a youtube video of the build step by step.