Powering innovation

Power modules enable world's most advanced all-electric work-class ROV

The solution

Power delivery network challenges

High power density

Compact and lightweight

Thermal management

Enabling safe and effective underwater exploration and maintenance

Since its inception in 1937 Saab has been an innovator with a mission to “keep people and society safe”. Inspecting underwater oil and gas pipelines, high-voltage electrical cables, wind turbines and other critical infrastructure is dangerous work for divers. However, designing remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for a myriad of deep-sea missions is difficult when trying to achieve manoeuvrability and accommodate immense payloads. Powering ROVs poses challenges with heat dissipation and demands to keep components small and lightweight.

Vicor advantages

~ 7.8kW/in³
power density

~1.45kg
weight

Thermally adept power modules

Saab Seaeye launches its first and most capable eWROV

Today, the number of underwater applications are proliferating rapidly. In response Saab Seaeye is innovating with a new more powerful and more versatile ROV, the world’s most capable all-electric, work-class ROV— the eWROV. The eWROV design solves the challenges of heat dissipation, providing immense payload and reducing the size and weight of electronics. Using high voltage DC power enables a significant reduction in tether size and weight, while still delivering performance equivalent to a 250-HP undersea hydraulic vehicle. Unlike traditional hydraulic ROVs, the eWROV all-electric system eliminates the need for large volumes of hydraulic fluid and is more efficient, thereby reducing environmental impact and risks.

A thermally-adept power supply that delivers efficiency under water

Exceptionally high-power density enables the eWROVs’ advanced features by adding significantly more payload and outperforming hydraulic ROVs. The power delivery network (PDN) design focuses on the transmission and conversion of 600V DC power using Vicor fixed ratio bus converters (BCMs) and regulated DC-DC converters (DCMs), to supply high-performance, low voltage power delivery for subsystems.

The wide selection of Vicor thermally-adept power modules allows Saab to customize the PDN subsystems according to industry standard 24V and 48V supply voltage levels required by onboard computers, sensors, video cameras, lights and navigation equipment. The compact power design frees up space within the eWROV, enabling the integration of additional electronics and improving overall performance and data transmission speeds.