Jason/Medea
Jason/Medea is a dual vehicle ROV system, with Medea serving as a wide

Jason.   Credit

area survey vehicle linked to Jason that functions as a precision multi-sensory imaging and sampling platform. Both Medea and Jason are designed to operate to a maximum depth of 6,000 m; they can be operated from a variety of research or commercial vessels. Jason is connected to Medea by a neutrally buoyant cable 15 mm (0.60") in diameter and approximately 100 meters long. Like the tow cable, it also uses three copper conductors and three single mode optical fibers, but uses Spectra fibers to provide strength while reducing size and weight. The cable has a working strength that will support a 1,300 kg load (3,000 lb.) and the breaking strength corresponds to a 5,400 kg load (12,000 lb.). Medea weighs 800 pounds in water and is maneuvered by controlling the surface ship's position within a dynamic positioning reference frame.

Jason is designed for detailed survey and sampling tasks that require a high degree of maneuverability. It weighs about 1,000 kg in air, and is neutrally buoyant at depth. The vehicle is equipped with seven brushless D.C. thrusters designed to provide a force in any of the Jason's axes. Both Medea and Jason have been designed to be superior real time optical imaging platforms with high quality cameras and lighting. The vehicles work together to provide lighting for each other in a fashion not commonly available in other submersible systems. Medea is configured with a 1-chip color camera and a silicon intensified target (SIT) black & white camera for terrain identification and visual location of Jason when both are operating.

ARGO-II
ARGO-II is a near-bottom towed vehicle

Argo II.   Credit

(towed at altitudes of ~3-15 m above the seafloor) designed to operate to depths of 6,000 m, utilizing a fiber optic tether to downlink power and controls to various subsystems and data sensors and uplink digital data in both image format and as data-streams.
 
Jason Specifications

GENERAL
Depth Capability	6,000 meters
Umbilical	35 meters, 18 mm diameter, neutrally buoyant
Size	2.2m (L), 1.2m (H), 1.1m (W)
Weight	2,000 kg in air (approx.)
Maximum Speed	1.0 knot forward, 0.5 knot lateral, 1 knot vertical
IMAGING
Video	Two surface-selectable channels from the following: - One single-CCD-chip color - One three-CCD-chip color - One single-CCD-chip black and white, aft looking
Still Camera	35mm, 400 frames with either 16mm or 28mm lens
Electronic Camera	Marquest Model 9100 camera
Lighting	One 200 watt-second strobe One 300 or 600 watt-second strobe Three 250 watt incandescent lamps Two 400 watt HMI lights
*Other cameras available upon request -- contact DSG*
STANDARD SENSORS AND EQUIPMENT
Attitude	Two-axis clinometer, 0.1 degree resolution
Heading	Flux-gate compass, 0.1 degree resolution Gimballed gyro, 0.1 degree resolution
Pressure Depth	Bulk semiconductor strain gauge, <1 m resolution
Altitude	120 kHz updating at 2 Hz, 33 meters range, 0.1 m resolution
Navigation	Long base line responder or relay transmitter/receiver 7-12 kHz vehicle powered or battery operated for emergency location
Manipulator	One 6 degree of freedom electric powered, maximum lift of 15 kg at .5 meters
Propulsion	Seven brushless DC thrusters providing the following thrust: - fore 260N (120 lbf) - aft - lateral 200N (45 lbf) - vertical 300N (135 lbf)
Sonar	SImagenex 855 scanning sonar with forward imaging or profiling head avaialble
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT SUPPORT
Analog	A/D capability available
Digital	Six RS-232 (422 available) 9.6 kbaud bidirectional data channels Higher speed links available
Power	Five 500 watt 120 vdc fused outputs
Video	One additional input One 6 Mhz with 0-20,000 kHz audio, one 8 Mhz no audio
Payload	50 kg

Medea Specifications

GENERAL
Depth Capability	6,000 meters
Umbilical	8,000 meters of 17 mm steel armored electro-optical cable based on UNOLS standard; 18,000 kg maximum load
Size	2.3 m (L), 1.5 m (H), 1 m (W)
Weight	310 kg in air (approx.)
Maximum Tow Speed	1 knot
IMAGING
Video Cameras	One surface selectable channel from the following cameras: - One single CCD chip color - One Silicon Intensified Target (SIT) black and white
Still Cameras	35 mm, 400 frames with either 16 mm or 28 mm lens
Lighting	Two 200 watt second strobes Four 250 watt incandescent lamps
STANDARD SENSORS
Heading	Flux-gate compass, 0.1 degree resolution
Pressure Depth	Bulk semiconductor strain gauge, <1 m resolution
Altitude	120 kHz updating at 1 Hz, 300 meter range, ~1 meter resolution
Navigation	Long baseline responder or relay transmitter/receiver 7-12 kHz vehicle powered or battery operated for emergency location
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION SUPPORT
Analog	A/D capability available
Digital	One RS-232 (422 available) 9.6 kbaud bidirectional data channel
Power	One 500 watt, 120 vdc fused output