HROV Nereid Under Ice

Nereid Under Ice (NUI) is a hybrid remotely operated vehicle developed by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) to explore under-ice and ice-margin regions that are otherwise extremely difficult or risky to reach.

NUI carries a 20 km (12 mile), 250 μm (0.01 inch) diameter fiber-optic microtether that provides real-time control and data transmission without the range or maneuverability limits imposed by a conventional heavy ROV tether. The microtether transmits environmental data, control signals, and high-definition video while the vehicle draws power from onboard batteries. It also allows NUI to travel several kilometers laterally from its support ship while remaining under human control or to maneuver more freely in complex terrain. NUI’s missions can shift between mapping, inspection, and intervention (sampling) in response to real-time observations. When needed, the vehicle can release its tether and operate autonomously to finish a mission or return for recovery.

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