This paper describes a novel self-locking connection
mechanism used to connect two ROVs, a mother (LATIS) and daughter ROV
(VideoRay), for sub-sea operations. The necessity to develop a new topology of
connection mechanism arose during an off-shore wreck survey whereby the ROVs
were connected by a custom designed hook and ring system. During the trials, despite
satisfactory performance of the custom hook, the necessity to develop a new
hooking system to facilitate, accelerate and improve safety conditions of the
engage and disengage procedure became evident. The interconnecting umbilical
cable feed to the daughter ROV's is managed by coiling/uncoiling it around the
mother ROV via coordinated motion of the both ROVs. During the coil phase, the
umbilical cable is guided into its holding slots by a B shape frame positioned
at each corner of the LATIS. The new self-locking mechanism is designed to
operate without a power supply or hydraulic drive but instead its geometry and
the constituent springs facilitate daughter ROV locking / unlocking with
daughter ROV thrusters alone.