Underwater ROV —
Tank & Basin Inspection

Context

Inspecting what divers can't — or shouldn't — reach

Professional diving is constrained by regulation, safety overhead, and cost. For many inspection tasks — a partially filled tank, a turbid basin, a flooded confined structure — sending a diver is either impractical or disproportionate.

PPA, a professional diving company operating across Belgium, needed a tool to extend their inspection capabilities: faster deployment, no dewatering required, usable in environments where human access is restricted or risky.

The brief was open: find the right platform, adapt it to operational reality, and make it work in the field.

Solution

BlueROV2 Heavy — adapted for real-world deployment

After evaluating available platforms, the BlueROV2 Heavy from Blue Robotics was selected for its modularity, open architecture, and proven underwater performance. The base platform was then adapted for PPA's operational context.

Key adaptations: a WiFi communication bridge, a Steam Deck as the primary control interface for its compact form factor in field conditions, a detachable umbilical connector for easier deployment, and a dedicated PC-based control and recording station.

The result is a system deployable by one operator, transportable in a standard vehicle, without specialist ROV training.

Planned evolutions

An evolving platform

The current system is operational and deployed. Several capability extensions are in development to expand the range of inspections the ROV can perform.