ROV vs AUV: What’s the Difference and Which One Is Right for Subsea Operations? As offshore oil & gas operations move into deeper, more complex waters, underwater robotic systems have become essential enablers of subsea engineering. Among these systems, ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) and AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) dominate the subsea landscape. While both operate beneath the sea surface, their design philosophy, control methods, and applications are fundamentally different. Understanding these differences is critical for engineers, operators, and decision-makers involved in subsea inspection, construction, and monitoring . This post provides a clear, engineering-focused comparison of ROVs vs AUVs , grounded in real offshore practice. 1. What Is an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle)? An ROV is a tethered underwater vehicle controlled in real time by operators onboard a surface vessel or offshore facility. Key Characteristics of ROVs Connected to the surface via an u...
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