With 2 vertical thrusters, the AC-ROV can be tilted for complete camera manipulation.  The controller is 1 handed, 100% intuitive and palm sized.  The Videoray and Seabotix LBV have tilting cameras, so flight and camera control is two handed.

Shaft mounted thrusters are easily jammed with weed and line.

Degrees Of Freedom defines maneuverability, and the maximum is 6

Thrusters & Mobility

                       Fwd / Aft Thrusters

                      Port / Stb Thrusters

                                            Vertical

     Thruster Type

                    Degrees Of Freedom

Bench Mark Data (vs. AC-ROV)

                              Size vs AC-ROV

                                Power/ Weight

                   Power/ Displacement

             Fwd / aft Thruster Factor

                Lateral Thruster Factor

               Vertical Thruster Factor

VideoRay ROV's cannot fly sideways or hold in a side current.  The LBV side area is twice its frontal area, and with only a single lateral thruster its sideways current holding capabilityis about 25% of its forward capability.  The AC-ROV has equal Fwd, Aft and Lateral side thrust. 

Thrust Factor (approx) = Effective Thruster Area (TA) DIVIDED by the vehicle area presented to the flow.  Thrusters without nozzles OR with guarded nozzles; Reduce TA by 25%.  Thrusters with less than 100% clear, inline and fully open flow path within 6 times their diameter; Reduce TA by 25%.  correct TA proportional to vector in flow direction.

4 x ClusterLEDs

Camera Tracking

Variable Intensity

1 x 50 watt

Camera Tracking

Variable Intensity