ROV Rhody

Meet URI’s state-of-the-art ROV

URI’s newest piece of cutting-edge ocean technology, the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Rhody, is a small but powerful tool revolutionizing hands-on research and exploration opportunities for students. Designed in collaboration with Norwegian company JM Robotics and optimized for compact deployment, Rhody is lightweight enough to be carried by two people yet capable of carrying high-end sensors typical of deep-sea exploration. Outfitted with a VOYIS Discovery Stereo Camera, Rhody collects ultra-high-resolution imagery to create detailed 3D models of underwater environments. Built with accessibility and mobility in mind, it can be deployed from a pier or transported in a pickup truck, opening new doors for training, research, and public engagement in marine science.

17 shipwrecks documented in Lake Ontario with ROV Rhody

A team of eight students, scientists, and engineers from the URI recently returned from the first survey of known shipwrecks in the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. Using URI’s new ROV, the student-led team documented 17 shipwrecks. The URI team was joined by maritime archeologists from NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, which funded the project through the NOAA Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI).

Rhody’s first expedition
ROV Rhody‘s first expedition.