The ROVER is an autonomous bottom-transecting vehicle designed to make measurements on deep-ocean, soft sediments.  The vehicle resembles a small fork-lift with dual, tractor-type, continuous treads.  The treads provide enough surface area so that the ROVER will not sink into very soft sediments, and enough traction to navigate small mounds and rocks.  Instruments of various types can be mounted to the front of the vehicle on a rack that moves vertically.   The ROVER's tracks and instrument rack are operated by a micro-controller which is pre-programmed to traverse to as many as 26 sites as much as ten meters apart.  Recall of the vehicle to the surface is via acoustic releases and disposable ballast.  The overall dimensions of the ROVER are: 2.74 m long, 2.03 m wide and 2.19 m high from the base of the propulsion treads to the top of the lifting bail.  In air, the vehicle weighs approximately 1500 kg, while in water the use of glass floatation spheres and plastic reduces the weight to approximately 35 kg.  Power for the controller and instruments is provided by 360 alkaline "D-cell" flashlight batteries.  The ROVER can typically operate at depths up to 6000 meters and deployment times up to six months.

For further information, please refer to the following website: http://smithlab.ucsd.edu/inst/rover/rover.htm