By splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen gases, the BCD can precisely control the ROV’s buoyancy, mimicking the swim bladders found in fish.The robot serves as proof-of-concept for the potential of fuel cell-based buoyancy control devices to reduce operating costs for remotely operated or autonomous underwater vehicles by creating a remotely operated vehicle that utilizes water-splitting fuel cells for buoyancy control.
This approach offers many advantages. “The cool thing about this for us is that it’s cutting-edge technology,” remarked Bare. We’re the first to implement it in a device with such comprehensive controls, making it truly groundbreaking.”Professor Ghorbel echoed Bare’s enthusiasm, highlighting the technology’s vast potential. “This highly energy-efficient and silent system has applications beyond AUVs,” he explained.
Team BayMax’s design incorporates a comprehensive sensor suite that monitors system health and the ROV’s position and orientation. This data is relayed to a user-friendly dashboard displaying real-time information, including depth graphs, a virtual orientation simulation, and a visual representation of the BCD’s activation state.The project’s success stemmed from the shared passion of Team BayMax members, all driven by a desire to push their boundaries.