[Acoustics] cableway ROV'S

Fri Jul 30 14:09:51 CDT 2004

I am providing this email in response to emails written in the Acoustic
Digest related to the cableway Rover produced by Unbound Technologies.
It is unfortunate that the USGS received the first two units in
production and in poor condition from shipping. We are currently in the
process of qualification and acceptance testing of 2 Rovers from
Unbound.  I have performed most of this testing over the past few days.
We will resume acceptance testing of up to more units later in August
due to other time commitments.  I have provided a brief summary of my
latest experience:
*	The rover is designed for single person mounting to reduce the
liability associated with the weight.  While working alone, I have
successfully installed the Rover on our cableway, performed acceptance
testing, performed an ADCP measurement and removed the Rover from the
cableway.  Installation and removal is difficult if not done in
precisely the correct manner.  Detailed installation procedures may not
be clearly set out in the manual.  We have received our units complete
with the winch override control which allows easier guidance of the
Rover up to the cableway.  An additional guide piece, present in the
previous unit, is also being added to these units. 
*	There were very sharp edges on the metal housing - Unbound
advises us that these will be chamfered and filed. 
*	Fuses blowing has been an issue, although I did not experience
this with the first unit that we are in the process of accepting.  Fuses
generally blow when the motor draws too much power such as when it runs
up against the end of a cableway or if there is a mechanical problem
resulting in excessive drag and too much power draw (like set screws on
the drive mechanism being loose). The type of motor is such that when is
butted up against something and cannot move, the power draw will cause a
fuse to blow.  In the second unit we tested, the set screws that stop
the gear from moving on the shaft were not in place and consequently
there was some binding - again causing a fuse to blow.  Another instance
where the fuses might blow is when the drive control is cranked around
from full forward to full reverse.  We are adding a center detent drive
control dial will help prevent this.  I am thinking that perhaps in your
case, shipping damage may have caused parts to shake loose which then
resulted in further damage. 

*	My experience with the Rover is that if installation, operation
and maintenance is not precise, then there can be difficulties.  This
could be a major problem for large scale implementation if proper
training is not implemented.

Although we are close to accepting the units, there are still a few
refinements to come prior to acceptance by Environment Canada.  Our
intent is to assist in the development of a product that helps the
technician do his job so it must be robust and reliable.  Your
experience has provided valuable feedback on this.  I would encourage
anyone who has experience with these units to contact me if there are
any issues.  In addition, we would welcome opportunities to work with
you on further joint testing.  

Deborah Folk
Project Engineer
Environment Canada
Prairie and Northern Region
Water Survey Division 
ph: 306-780-5721
e-mail: deborah.folk at ec.gc.ca

-----Original Message-----
From: acoustics-bounces at simon.er.usgs.gov
[mailto:acoustics-bounces at simon.er.usgs.gov] On Behalf Of Scott A
Kimball
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2004 12:40 PM
To: Jon E Hortness; Johnny T Wheat
Cc: acoustics-bounces at simon.er.usgs.gov; acoustics at simon.er.usgs.gov
Subject: Re: [Acoustics] cableway ROV'S

Jon & everyone else,

HIF received two of the Unbound Technologies cableway rovers.  They were
sent to us in Rubbermaid bins that were damaged in shipping. The vendor
should have taken more care in packaging them and used a proper shipping
container. The units themselves did not appear damaged so we began
initial
function testing. They are very heavy, 80 lbs. and it takes two people
to
put one on the cableway even with the ability to lift itself. The rover
blew fuses and eventually the controller stopped working in one
direction.
It came with a second controller so we tried it and everything began
working again only to have the display on the console go out. There are
many opportunities to be injured using these rovers and the user manual
is
full of caution statements. I received a small cut on my left forearm
when
we took the rover down off the cableway. More of our experiences with
the
Unbound Technologies rover will be published in the WRD Instrument News
for
USGS readers.  After multiple difficulties and other problems we intend
to
return them to the vendor for refund. These rovers carry an $11,000
price
tag. With additional refinements to reduce weight, increase safety and
promote ease of use we believe the cableway rover has the potential to
be
an alternative to a manned cableway.

Scott

Scott Kimball
Hydrologic Technician
USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility
Building 2101
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
1-800-382-0634 ext. 81589
http://wwwhif.er.usgs.gov

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