News Archive

2009

Standard BWR and PWR Equipment and Services

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. announces a new BWR and PWR Outage Equipment and Services Program. All equipment and services offered in this program are presented in menu format and are designed to assist utilities accomplish both Outage Critical Path time reduction and ALARA goal compliance, without capital cost impact.

The new Outage Services Menu Program evolved from comprehensive Outage Service and Robotics Programs that have been field proven by R.O.V. for nearly two decades; and is designed with the understanding that some utilities may not require a full comprehensive program, but would benefit from certain services – allowing for flexibility as well as savings.

Available Outage Service Menu items for BWR’s include (but are not limited to) reactor disassembly and reassembly surveillance systems, vessel, shroud and annulus IVVI inspection equipment, core alteration surveillance systems - including real-time core verification and fuel window optimization, reactor head inspections, cavity/drywell/Torus inspections and cleaning, main steam and feedwater piping internals inspection and FME retrieval, SFP inventory and under-rack cleaning and turbine/BOP piping closeout inspections.

Available Outage Service Menu items for PWR’s include (but are not limited to) reactor disassembly and reassembly surveillance systems, reactor head lift surveillance, upper internals lift surveillance and inspection, reactor vessel inspection and cleaning, remote o-ring groove and flange cleaning, four sided fuel inspection camera systems and refueling core verification, cavity inspections and cleaning, SFP inventory and under-rack cleaning, turbine/BOP piping closeout inspections, steam generator internal nozzle weld inspections, FOSAR and closeout inspections.

All Menu items include the required equipment and highly trained R.O.V. technicians to perform the work.

R.O.V.’s philosophy is always consistent with industry ALARA goals – operation of equipment, when possible, is from a remote low dose environment. R.O.V. also provides 24/7/365 emergent work response.

For further information about R.O.V.’s standard BWR and PWR Outage Equipment and Services as well as additional products and services available from R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., please contact Jack Judge at (802) 254-9353, or email mail@rovtech.com. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. is a Vermont-based, privately held, Veteran owned Corporation.

2008

PWR O-Ring Groove & Flange Cleaner Press Release

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. announces the release of its PWR O-Ring Groove & Flange Cleaner. The machine is designed to simultaneously clean, polish and vacuum the o-ring groove and flange of PWR reactors just prior to the reactor head installation.

Special brush assemblies designed and manufactured by R.O.V. are housed in vacuum chambers at the front and rear of a standard Scarab I Series crawler, allowing the operation to be performed from guide pin to guide pin with compete coverage of all areas in less than one hour.

The machine has three on board radiation tolerant color cameras suitable for process control and inspection of the entire operation. Vehicle controls and monitors are located away from the vessel cavity in a clean area, while effluent from the cleaning operation is captured and filtered for later disposal, keeping personnel safe from dose and contamination throughout the entire process.

For further information about the new PWR O-Ring Groove & Flange Cleaner, as well as additional products and services available from R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., please contact Don Butler or Jack Judge at (802) 254-9353, or email mail@rovtech.com. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. is a Vermont-based, privately held, Veteran owned Corporation.

Scarab IIIP Magnetic Crawler Press Release

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. announces the release of its Scarab IIIP magnetic crawler. The Scarab IIIP was designed to address an industry need to remotely inspect Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) heads for evidence of boron deposits due to weld degradation. This inspection criterion became evident due to the discovery of a failed inconel alloy 600 nozzle weld joint discovered at a U.S. operating station, and the high susceptibility to primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC). Initially, pole cameras were used to perform these inspections, however, operators received unacceptable levels of radiological dose during the operation.

The Scarab IIIP is a powerful, magnetic, wheel-driven crawler with a profile low enough to fit under a raised insulation package, and width narrow enough to maneuver the reactor head penetration rows. The crawler is equipped with a drive camera and a 400 degree rotational turret which incorporates a high resolution inspection camera and high intensity, adjustable lighting, all in a package measuring: 5.8 inches wide X 7.4 inches long X 2.7 inches high.

All vehicle control operations are performed remotely from a low dose area, in keeping with industry ALARA goals.

For further information about the new Scarab IIIP Magnetic Crawler, as well as additional products and services available from R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., please contact Don Butler or Jack Judge at (802) 254-9353, or email mail@rovtech.com. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. is a Vermont-based, privately held, Veteran owned Corporation.

Spent Fuel Pool & Under Rack Inspection and Cleaning System

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. announces the release of its Spent Fuel Pool & Under Rack Inspection and Cleaning System – The Scarab IIIF.

Spent Fuel Pool and Under Rack Mapping Inspection and Cleaning requires specialized radiation tolerant equipment capable of maneuvering under the Fuel Storage Racks as well as being able to retrieve debris, jet spray, vacuum and provide video of the operation.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc.’s Scarab IIIF is utilized as the primary vehicle for inspection camera placement, vacuum attachments and FME recovery tooling delivery in under rack areas where overhead clearance is minimal. The robust, yet compact Scarab IIIF measures 10 inches wide X 9.5 inches long X 3.25 inches high.

The Scarab IIIF features include low profile construction with an integral vacuum chamber, a forward mounted manipulator for FME retrieval as well as placement of an additional vacuum wand when desired, two individually controlled drive tracks and three inspection/drive cameras.

In keeping with industry ALARA goals, all vehicle control operations are performed remotely from a low dose area.

For further information about the new Scarab IIIF Crawler, as well as additional products and services available from R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., please contact Don Butler or Jack Judge at (802) 254-9353, or email mail@rovtech.com. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. is a Vermont-based, privately held, Veteran owned Corporation.

2007 - INVADER Press Release

Patent Pending

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. reports two very successful live deployments of its INVADER (In Vessel Annulus Data Evaluation Robot). After passing an extremely rigorous Test Specification and Procedure (TS&P) the GENE test facility in San Jose, CA in June 2006, INVADER was deployed at Dresden Station by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. in the fall of 2006, and most recently by GENE at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station this spring.

The Dresden deployment involved the successful completion of over 20 IVVI activities within the fuel move critical path window. Inspections included EVT-1, VT-1, and VT-3 for jet pumps, core spray, feedwater, main steam lines and dryer support lugs.

The most recent deployment with R.O.V. partner GENE at Grand Gulf this spring involved in excess of 100 IVVI activities within the fuel move critical path window. It is important to note that each activity can be comprised of multiple inspections. Inspections included EVT-1, VT-1 and VT-3 requirements for jet pumps, core spray, feedwater, shroud welds and all cladding inspections encompassing the annulus baffle plate to the separator guide rod brackets.

Both the installation and removal of INVADER at Grand Gulf were scheduled off of critical path. All remote operations and controls were performed from a clean area, resulting in a significant radiological dose savings to Grand Gulf versus current IVVI inspection methods.

With the implementation of R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. latest color camera technology, the entire inspection program at Grand Gulf was accomplished with zero camera failures.

INVADER has been jointly developed by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. with its partners, Exelon Power Generation and GENE. INVADER is designed to accomplish IVVI inspections during fuel moves - without interfering with critical path activities. Additionally, INVADER is operated remotely from a clean area, therefore allowing customers to realize significant ALARA benefits.

For further information about INVADER, and additional products and services available from R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., please contact Don Butler, Peter Zachary or Jack Judge at (802) 254-9353, or email mail@rovtech.com. R.O.V. Technologies is a Vermont-based, privately held veteran-owned Corporation.

2007 - Pole Camera System Press Release

New Pole Camera Offering

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. announces the introduction of its new Pole Camera System. The System’s standard configuration includes a pan, tilt, zoom and focus (PTZ-F) camera with high intensity, soft lighting; all housed in a very small, easily transportable package.

The R.O.V. Pole Camera System is designed for easier accessibility into tight areas, such as the jet pump riser brace area. The design also addresses an industry wide issue of field camera failures. R.O.V. has engineered this system to be more dependable, and much more resistant to failures that commonly occur in the field as a result of radiation, heat, and water leakage.

This latest camera technology is adapted from R.O.V.’s INVADER (paten. pending) system and offers sharp, clear, s-video, EVT-1 quality color images at a distance of 8 inches or more, with VT-3 at 36 inches. Incorporated into the unit is an approximately 400° pan feature.

The system includes clutch protected pan and tilt motors, and it is controlled through a 150 foot umbilical. The user friendly control console includes camera and light controls, a DVD recorder with audio, titler, keyboard, two s-video outputs, and a 15 inch high resolution LCD color monitor.

For further information about the new Pole Camera System, as well as additional products and services available from R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., please contact Don Butler or Jack Judge at (802) 254-9353, or email mail@rovtech.com. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. is a Vermont-based, privately held veteran-owned Corporation.

2007 - Ribbon Lift Crawler Press Release

At Power Entry Solutions

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. announces its new Ribbon Lift Crawler. The Ribbon Lift Crawler is designed specifically for PWR At-Power Entries. Most entries are in response to suspected steam leaks, to search for boron deposits or inconel 600 weld flaws.

The crawler may also be deployed to assist with inspections of any system component anomalies or data gathering for project repair and/or planning, while the plant is on line.

The crawler’s small but stable platform allows it to maneuver into tight areas and deploy a twenty foot mast through piping runs in order to investigate areas such as the reactor coolant pumps, steam generators, pressurizers and associated piping.

The ribbon lift was developed as part of R.O.V.’s INVADER (patent pending) technology. It is an extendable mast, which is deployed from an approximate one-foot container. The container houses three engineered ribbons that interlock when deployed creating a rigid triangular mast. The mast can be extended up to twenty feet vertically or horizontally in water or air applications. Due to its small size, the ribbon lift, outfitted with a radiation tolerant, color, pan, tilt, zoom (PTZ) camera, is easily mounted to the turret of a standard R.O.V. Scarab I crawler. When the ribbon lift is retracted, the interlocked sections are unlocked and rolled into three sections within the container, positioned for further deployment.

For further information about the Ribbon Lift Crawler, and additional products and services available from R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., please contact Don Butler or Jack Judge at (802) 254-9353, or email mail@rovtech.com. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. is a Vermont-based, privately held veteran-owned Corporation.

2007 - Two Inch Side View Camera System Press Release

Vision in High Dose Areas

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. announces the release of its specially designed Two Inch Side View Camera for viewing in high radiation dose areas; particularly tight, hard to reach areas. The color camera is housed in a two inch diameter proprietary shielded housing. The camera is capable of being deployed via a pole or a float can system.

The camera lens itself is isolated from gamma rays through the incorporation of a right angle, first surface mirror. The camera module is high resolution, EVT-1 quality, fixed view with focus features. The housing incorporates an approximately 400° pan feature central to the axis of the mirror.

Cabling is enclosed in a thick, durable, semi-flexible hose. The cable is 36 feet in length and is sealed to the housing end cap. The opposite cable end terminates at a user-friendly control console.

The control console is a standard R.O.V. console used for pole camera systems, and includes camera and light controls, a DVD recorder with audio, titler and keyboard, two s-video outputs and a 19 inch Sony LCD color monitor.

For further information about the new Two Inch Side View Camera, as well as additional products and services available from R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., please contact Don Butler or Jack Judge at (802) 254-9353, or email mail@rovtech.com. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. is a Vermont-based, privately held veteran-owned Corporation.

2007 - Weld Cleaning Products Press Release

Innovation in Weld Cleaning

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. announces its latest generation of Weld Cleaning products. The technology is available in two configurations: as an attachment to the standard R.O.V. mini-submersible, and pole operated.

These products are designed to clean welds for EVT-1 and VT-1 during the IVVI window.

Both weld cleaning options include a weld brush assembly consisting of a small but rugged clutch protected tilt assembly with 270 degrees of articulation, connected to a brush rotate assembly that has variable speeds from 0 rpm to approximately 800 rpm. The brush rotate assembly can operate in both clockwise and counter clockwise directions. A uniquely tapered bristle brush attached to the brush rotate assembly allows access into tight corners and angles.

Pole Mounted Weld Cleaner

The Pole Mounted Weld Cleaner is designed to be a lightweight, small profile unit with valuable features not found in currently available weld cleaning systems. It’s size and weight allows for easy access into reactor vessel annulus areas without the use of pole-mounted flotation. The unit measures approximately 11 inches long and 6 inches wide, and weighs approximately 10 pounds out of water, making it very user friendly and easily transportable.

The Pole Mounted Weld Cleaner is controlled through the use of an easy-to-operate miniature control console. The control console houses controls for the tilt and rotate functions. It’s footprint is compact - 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 9 inches high, and weighs approximately 20 pounds. Operation can be from this control console as well as from an optional rail mounted pendant. The optional rail mounted pendant is user friendly and measures only 9 inches long by 5 inches wide, and weighs approximately three pounds, offering the operator much more flexibility in an easy to use package.

Mini-Submersible Mounted Weld Cleaner

The Mini-Submersible Mounted Weld Cleaner is designed to attach central to the standard R.O.V. mini-submersible to deploy the weld brush assembly underneath the sub on one of three standard pole lengths. This mounting feature enables weld cleaning activities to take place from a remote location, providing significant ALARA benefits. Also, the operation does not interfere with other reactor vessel critical path activities, such as fuel moves.

An on-board color camera and light assembly with 10X zoom capability is used to view the weld brush operation in real time, enabling the operator to make on the spot decisions regarding cleanliness results. This is a significant time saver versus traditional methods, which involve a separate operation and an additional operator to lower a camera into the area being cleaned to determine results.

The control console consists of two high resolution color monitors and houses controls for tilt, rotate, speed, rotate direction, zoom, focus and lights. The console is a rugged, anvil style shipping container. Detachable covers are included.

The cable interface between the both weld cleaning assemblies and their consoles is specially designed for the weld cleaning applications. It is a durable, but lightweight cable that provides DC power, a safer alternative to the commonly used AC power.

For further information about the new generation of Weld Cleaners, and additional products and services available from R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., please contact Don Butler or Jack Judge at (802) 254-9353, or email mail@rovtech.com. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. is a Vermont-based, privately held veteran-owned Corporation.

MAY 2005 —
NEW MANUFACTURING AND SERVICING FACILITY
THE LATEST IN CRITICAL PATH TIME SAVINGS INNOVATION

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. proudly announces the opening of our new 60,000 square foot Engineering, Manufacturing and Contaminated Equipment Processing Facility. The new facility located in Southern Vermont is minutes from an Interstate Highway and only an hour’s drive to a major airport. Purchased with the intent of better serving our Nuclear Clients the new facility enhances our present operations by doubling our machining capability, expanding the area utilized for R&D work and most importantly the addition of space dedicated to refurbishment and warehousing of contaminated robotic and surveillance equipment.

Processing Facility for Contaminated Equipment:

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently applied for and received an NRC license to receive, acquire, possess and transfer Low Specific Activity materials (LSA). With the license in possession, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has undertaken the required steps necessary to prepare the site, author process control procedures, acquire Radiation Protection survey and monitoring equipment and implement the program.

Site Preparation:

To prepare the facility for contaminated equipment refurbishment, warehousing and shipment the following was completed:

Approximately two acres of land adjacent to the facility were security fenced with “chain-link” fencing with locked gates and appropriate placarding. This area will be used to store sealand vehicles for transporting equipment.
A Security plan was established that includes locks on all exterior doors and gates, a keypad identification system on the personnel entrance, as well as a remote video surveillance intruder alert system. All R.O.V. personnel will wear Identification badges and visitors will be registered and escorted.
The radiation controlled area (RCA) inside the building was coated (floor and walls) for ease of decontamination.
An environmentally controlled inner building enclosure has been fabricated from stainless steel to provide the contaminated equipment refurbishment and testing center. The enclosure is strategically placed within the RCA for optimum access and egress of shipments. The workspace within the enclosure is fitted with workbenches, power receptacles, overhead lighting and dual HEPA filters (capable of changing the air completely every two minutes). A double door in the enclosure allows ease of entry with shipping containers as large as B25 boxes (by fork lift)

Process Control Procedures and Survey/Monitoring Equipment:

To establish the programs and process control procedures necessary to become a Licensee and operate a contaminated robotic equipment rental and repair center successfully; R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has hired a full time Radiation Protection Safety Officer (RSO). The RSO authored thirty procedures to provide guidance and direction to the Radiation Protection Technicians (RPT) and Robotic/electronic Technician personnel that will work within the controls of the R.O.V. Program and NRC License via RWP. The RSO is responsible for supervision of RP Technicians, aspects of NRC license compliance and all shipping and receiving operations. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has purchased the RP survey and monitoring equipment necessary to meet the requirements of the program and has established contracts with contaminated laundry, waste disposal and other vendors as required.

Program Implementation:

R.O.V. has retrieved all of the Robotics Rental Program equipment previously stored in various places, staged the equipment in either the contaminated or non-contaminated storage areas (as applicable) and is in the process of completing a master inventory and equipment status data base that will aid in expeditious response to clients needs. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. can now offer a true 24/7 emergency response to client’s requests for contaminated equipment and services as well as the following standard scheduled services:

Ship LSA status equipment by contract shipping vendors - air or land
Ship LSA status equipment utilizing DOT licensed R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. drivers and vehicles
Pick up and delivery of customers LSA status equipment for repair or calibration, i.e. cameras, meters, robotics, etc.
Interim storage and categorization of clients LSA status equipment such as scaffolding LSA containers, etc.
Rebuilding and/or repair of clients LSA status electrical, electronic and mechanical equipment, motors, pumps, etc.

Machining, Assembly and Welding

Machining:

Prior to moving our machining operations from our existing shop to the new facility we purchased and installed enough new milling and lathe equipment in the new facility to ensure there would be no “down time” during the transition. This will ultimately result in doubling our machining capability. Immediate plans are to also install machining equipment into our contaminated work area to offer “hot shop” services to our clients.

Assembly:

The new component assembly area is approximately ten times the size of the one previously used and features multiple work stations as well as tiered storage racks for warehousing of materials and completed components.

Welding:

The new facility features a large area totally dedicated to welding and cutting operations. The metal working equipment includes steel workbenches and equipment to cut and weld aluminum, stainless and carbon steels. Immediate plans include welding services and procedure development in our Contaminated Work Area.

Research and Development

Research and Development (R&D):

The new facility has ample room for layout of mockups and structural components to be used as either test fixtures for R&D or training aids for manual dexterity performance evaluation and skill enhancement. At this time, at the new facility, there is a jet pump supported in a reactor vessel annulus cross sectional fixture complete with a steam dam and core spray header. This fixture is presently being utilized in the development of annulus inspection devices. In addition there is an under head mockup used for development of equipment for guide funnel inspection and welding as well as operator proficiency. Located in the original manufacturing facility, R.O.V. also maintains an eighty thousand gallon wet cavity/vessel mockup for R&D and operator training on underwater vehicles.

For further information contact:
Mr. John J. Judge
Mr. Michael L. Trombley
Mr. Brian F. Quinlan
At telephone number 802-254-9353 or E-mail to mail@rovtech.com

January 19, 2005

News Release #178

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. Announces Refinements Completed and Tested on its “Mini Sub” Remotely Operated Submersible Inspection and Retrieval Device.

Refinements Include:

Increased Umbilical Flexibility and Floatation Modifications for Ease of Operation
Thruster Modifications for Increased Water Flow Through Propellers
Added Ducting to Increase and Tune Water Flow for Additional Power
Modify Frame for Decreasing Overall Footprint
Modified Console Electronics for Increased Voltage and Current Flow
Redesigned Sealing Surfaces for Increased Reliability
Redesigned Seal Profile and Materials for Increased Reliability
Modified Ducted Pan Crash Guards for Additional FME Security
Incorporated Smaller and More Powerful DC PWM Power Driven Thruster Motors
Modified Manipulator Drive Design and Size for Increased Reliability
Added New Camera Capabilities Which Include:
- RAD Tolerance Inspection
- EVT 1 Color Capabilities

The Miniature Submersible is sized to be able to enter a BWR lower head after removal of an “Elephants Foot” from the Core Plate, for inspection and retrieval.

Should you have any questions or require additional information do not hesitate to contact Jack Judge at Area Code 802 Telephone 254-9353.

2004

AITD Invader TIP Award - April 7, 2004

News Release #177

For the second year, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. (“ROV”) is going to be the recipient of the prestigious T.I.P. award. The T.I.P or “Top Industry Practice” award is the highest achievement award within the Nuclear Industry, and is presented for designs and ideas which make highly significant contributions.

In 2003 ROV received the T.I.P. award for its in Vessel Mounted Robotic Camera System which monitors all fuel movements and other in vessel activities and provides wireless pictures to the refuel bridge. Additionally, the system is used to perform real-time core verification while fuel moves are in progress. The system is called FAIS or Fuel Assembly Inspection System which is now integrated into most BWR refueling outages performed in the United States.

This year, ROV will receive the T.I.P. award for a new system called the A.I.T.D. or Annulus Inspection Tool Delivery System, affectionately known as the “Invader”. The A.I.T.D. was designed to traverse along the steam dam of a BWR and deploy either of its two on-board masts to any area of the vessel or annulus up to the feedwater spargers or down to the annulus floor, including entry into the jet pump. The operation is performed remotely while fuel moves are in process, and all on-board cameras are capable of EVT-1 Calibration, allowing for real-time IVVI.

The on-board masts are unique in that they deploy from an approximate one square foot housing to a distance of more than twenty feet using three interlocking ribbons which form a rigid triangular work platform. A customized end effector is used to mount a variety of tooling including pan, tilt and zoom cameras, welding heads, grinding devices, etc. Because of its compact size when retracted, the mast can be positioned into tightly retransitionaled areas for deployment to partial or full lengths within a cross section of less than three inches. This is accomplished through waterproofed drive mechanisms operated and viewed from a remote location.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. is a Vermont based privately held S corporation owned and operated by career nuclear professionals.

A brochure is available upon request, which describes the full R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. nuclear equipment line, including a list of nuclear customers, contacts, telephone numbers and completed projects.

For more information contact R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. at Area Code 802 Telephone 254-9353 or E-mail at: mail@rovtech.com

“Top Industry Practice” Award

The prestigious T.I.P. or “Top Industry Practice” award is the highest achievement award within the Nuclear Industry, and is presented for designs and ideas which make highly significant contributions to improve safety, performance, and dose reduction.

In 2003 R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. in conjunction with Exelon Nuclear received the T.I.P. award for its In-Vessel Mounted Robotic Camera System which monitors all fuel movements and other In-Vessel activities and provides wireless pictures to the refuel bridge. Additionally, the system is used to perform real-time core verification while fuel moves are in progress as well as monitoring all work in the Rx Vessel. The system is called FAIS or Fuel Assembly Inspection System and is now integrated into the majority of BWR refueling outages performed in the United States.

This year R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. in conjunction with Exelon Nuclear and GE Energy received the T.I.P. award for a new system called the In-Vessel and Annulus Data Evaluation Robot, affectionately known as the “INVADER”. The “INVADER” was designed to traverse along the Steam Dam of a BWR and deploy either of its two on board masts to any area of the BWR Vessel or Annulus up to the Feedwater Spargers or down to the Annulus Floor, including entry into the Jet Pumps. The operation is performed remotely while fuel moves are in process. All on-board cameras are capable of EVT-1 calibration, allowing for real time IVVI. The system is also capable of monitoring all work in the Rx Vessel. The on-board masts are unique in that they deploy from an approximate one square foot housing to a distance of more then twenty feet using three interlocking ribbons which form a rigid triangular work platform. A customized end effector can be used to mount a variety of tooling including pan, tilt and zoom cameras, welding heads, grinding devices, etc. Because of its compact size when retracted the mast can be positioned into tightly retransitionaled areas for deployment to partial or full lengths. This is accomplished through waterproofed drive mechanisms operated and viewed from a remote location.

In addition to ROV’s award winning concepts and accomplishments, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has successfully overcome other Industry challenges with innovative designs over the past two years. To name a few:

Implementation of utility wide robotics programs to assist in achieving world class outage performance.
Fuel Assembly Tie Plate Crushing Device – Used to reduce radiation waste by sectioning fuel support assemblies and crushing the tie plate assemblies remotely.
This concept dramatically reduced the volume of contaminated waste requiring burial.
Remote RX Vessel Head Inspection BMI / BMH – Performed using State of the Art Micro-Magnetic Crawlers with miniature pan, tilt and focus cameras.
Feedwater Sparger Inspection – Performed using specialized tooling which located on a Feedwater Nozzle from the Refuel Bridge and enabled a 100 ft long
Borescope to be fed down through the device from the Refuel Bridge into the Feedwater Sparger allowing the scope to traverse in either direction the length of the Feedwater Sparger, discovering two missing Iso-Kinetic Probes.
Steam Generator Bowl Inspection Device – Used to remotely inspect steam generator hot and cold leg nozzle inner radius areas resulting in a ten fold reduction of personnel exposure from previous operations.
Established programs, provided procedures, and equipment for Spent Fuel Pool cleaning, inventories and verification of S.N.M. Provided 24/7 emergency consultations, robotic equipment and remote tooling.

Among the items to be introduced early next year is an Inner and Outer Bellows Cleaning Crawler called the “Amphibian”. This machine will be capable of remotely extracting sediment and sludge from the Reactor Cavity Inner and Outer Bellows areas, traveling between hatch covers. Once a hatch cover is encountered a docking station will lift the crawler over the hatch, propel the unit forward and lower it into position so it may proceed, The docking station is capable of carrying a 250lb load to any location within the vessel, spent fuel pool or dryer/separator pit. All operations, as usual, are performed from a remote, clean area location.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. is a Vermont based privately held “S” corporation owned and operated by career nuclear professionals.

A brochure is available upon request which describes the full R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. nuclear equipment line, including a list of nuclear customers, contacts, telephone numbers and completed projects.

For more information contact R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. at Area Code 802 Telephone 254-9353 or E-mail at mail@rovtech.com

2001

News Release #164

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided outage support at Exelon Nuclear’s LaSalle County Station. During this outage, vessel core fuel assembly serial number verification was performed in real time, and concluded within minutes after fuel load completion. This was accomplished using state-of-the-art, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. designed, robotic arms installed in the vessel at 180° apart. The system is called "Fuel Assembly Inspection System" or "FAIS" and is remotely operated by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., technicians during the fuel load. In addition, each fuel assembly is inspected for proper orientation, location and seating as it is installed in the vessel. This is accomplished using remotely operated, Rad tolerant cameras mounted on the steam separator studs. The views received are transmitted to the refuel bridge monitor via wireless technology.

The fuel in the spent fuel pool was also programmatically audited using an R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. submersible. All activities were recorded for archives.
-- January 15, 2001

News Release #165

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided outage support at Exelon Nuclear’s Quad Cities Station. During this outage, vessel core fuel assembly serial number verification was performed in real time, and concluded within minutes after fuel load completion. This was accomplished using state-of-the-art, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. designed, robotic arms installed in the vessel at 180° apart. The system is called "Fuel Assembly Inspection System" or "FAIS" and is remotely operated by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., technicians during the fuel load. In addition, each fuel assembly is inspected for proper orientation, location and seating as it is installed in the vessel. This is accomplished using remotely operated, Rad tolerant cameras mounted on the steam separator studs. The views received are transmitted to the refuel bridge monitor via wireless technology.

Other activities accomplished by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. during this outage included: a spent fuel pool audit using an R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. submersible; full inspection (inside and outside) of the dryer and steam separator using the combination of an ROV Technologies, Inc. submersible and a robotic crawler with telescopic arm and camera assembly; and FME retrieval in the moisture separator using robotic equipment.
-- January 15, 2001

News Release #166

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided outage support at Exelon Nuclear’s Dresden Station. During this outage, vessel core fuel assembly serial number verification was performed in real time, and concluded within minutes after fuel load completion. This was accomplished using state-of-the-art, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. designed, robotic arms installed in the vessel at 180° apart. The system is called "Fuel Assembly Inspection System" or "FAIS" and is remotely operated by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., technicians during the fuel load. In addition, each fuel assembly is inspected for proper orientation, location and seating as it is installed in the vessel. This is accomplished using remotely operated, RAD tolerant cameras mounted on the steam separator studs. The views received are transmitted to the refuel bridge monitor via wireless technology.

News Release #167

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently completed a successful refueling support outage at Clinton Power Station. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. support included verification of in process fuel orientation and seating in addition to core verification performed in parallel with fuel moves. Core verification was completed five minutes after the last fuel move was completed with second verification completed ten minutes later.

This accomplishment was made possible using R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. custom designed robotic, high resolution underwater cameras. The robotic camera and lighting equipment was controlled remotely by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. technicians located in a non-contaminated Kelly building enclosure on the refuel floor. In addition to these controlled activities, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. provided the capability to real-time monitor, video record and image capture all in-vessel activities. From this control station, additional video feeds were provided to the refueling bridge and the Outage Control Center.

The primary scope of work accomplished by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. was to video monitor each fuel move verifying proper orientation and seating of each fuel bundle. As fuel moves progressed, the robotic arms were used for core verification. Each fuel bundle was recorded, verifying serial number, full seating and proper orientation. This process allowed Clinton Station Reactor Engineering personnel to perform the first and second core verification functions in a near parallel path with fuel moves, reducing the overall refuel floor critical path schedule by approximately six hours.

A benefit in addition to the refueling critical path savings realized by Clinton Power Station was the ability to provide Operations personnel with a high resolution view of the control rod blade guides during control rod testing. Given the excellent viewing provided by the robotic arm cameras, Operations was able to complete this function in one third the allotted time. Performing these verifications from the remote control station also allowed non-related refuel bridge work to proceed in a parallel path.

Controlling these functions from a remote station provided the ALARA benefit of reducing dose to personnel who previously performed these activities from the refueling bridge.
-- January 17, 2001

News Release #168

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided outage support at the NAESCO Seabrook Nuclear Power Station. Services included remote video support of the reactor head and upper internals lifts. Adjustable brackets with full function cameras were mounted on the head flange and to the upper internals "lift rig". These camera views allowed the lift director to monitor and guide all lift movements and component placement without any support personnel in the reactor cavity area. Other services included fuel top nozzle spring inspection prior to off-load and fuel verification during core reload.

The use of the remotely operated, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. manufactured Reactor Head Alignment and Upper Internals Lift Rig camera systems were key elements in the plant achieving its outage ALARA goal.
-- January 17, 2001

News Release #169

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided outage support at TVA’s Watts Bar Nuclear Station. Services included verification of clearances for reactor upper internals movement, lower reactor core plate cleanliness inspection and vessel nozzle weld inspection. These tasks were performed using an R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. designed submersible vehicle equipped with a high resolution radiation tolerant camera.

Prior to drain down, the reactor flange area was brushed and vacuumed using a remotely operated R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. Scarab II crawler outfitted with a vacuum wand. The wand is routed to an underwater vacuum system.

The use of the remotely operated submersible and crawler vehicles provides significant dose reduction and is instrumental in achieving ALARA goals.
-- January 17, 2001

News Release #170

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently supported TVA Sequoyah fall outage. Outage activities included:

Support of major component lifts using an R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. submarine with 24X color zoom camera.

RCP Pump casing inspection using an R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. submarine with 24X color zoom camera.

Core Plate Inspection prior to core reload using an R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. submarine with a black and white 6X zoom camera.

Cavity (FME) retrievals using an R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. with a single function manipulator.

RX Vessel ISI using an R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. submarine.

Vacuuming the head bolting carbon ring area is performed, using an R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. crawler with a vacuum head option, at the same time CRD latching is done saving 6 hrs. critical path time.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. maintains a multi-year contract with TVA that provides qualified technicians for TVA owned robotic equipment maintenance and outage support.
-- January 17, 2001

News Release #171

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has received a contract from Exelon Nuclear. Services to be provided are technical support for set-up, operation and demobilization of audio-video equipment including remotely operated camera systems to support refuel floor activities for the Limerick Generating Station during their 2R06 outage.

Specific tasks include equipment set-up/check-out on refuel floor and in Fuel Floor office with support from Exelon Nuclear Maintenance – Reactor Services personnel, assistance installing cameras in the reactor cavity, operation of camera systems, demobilization of equipment and maintenance/repair of cameras and other audio/video equipment.

The time frame of the contract is from 3/16/2001 to 6/30/01.
-- March 21, 2001

News Release #172

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has received a contract from Exelon Nuclear. Equipment to be provided is a pneumatic thimble plug manipulator tool assembly to the Byron Nuclear Station.
-- March 21, 2001

News Release #173

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has received an order to an on-going contract from Wisconsin Public Service Corporation.

The change order is for repair of the submersible radiation tolerant inspection system vehicle operation control center panel circuit boards and parts as required for the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant’s submarine manufactured by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc.

The original contract is for manpower services at Kewaunee Plant’s refueling outages in 2001, 2003 and 2004.
-- March 26, 2001

News Release #174

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided outage support, assisting in the accomplishment of a world record setting refuel outage of 12 days, 21 hours for Exelon Nuclear’s Limerick 2 Station.

During this outage, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. performed remote operation of in-vessel fuel assembly serial number verification and orientation using two robotic arms installed on the steam dam located 180° apart. Core verification was completed within minutes of the last fuel bundle loaded and included height inspection for proper seating as well as inspection for debris, realizing several hours of critical path time savings. The robotic arms also assisted in IVVI, LPRM removal and inner blade guide inspections.

In addition, high resolution, robotic cameras mounted on the head studs verified proper orientation and location of each fuel bundle move.

Images from any of these cameras can be sent to the refuel bridge via wireless technology. The image viewed during fuel loading greatly assisted in increasing the speed of that process. It did so by aiding in visually guiding the fuel bundle to its appropriate position inside the core.

The R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. system, known as FAIS or Fuel Assembly Inspection System, as well as the R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. field engineers who operate the equipment have now proven, after a dozen outage uses to be an essential ingredient for shortened outage durations.
-- April 23, 2001

2000

News Release #140 / The Large Rate Display (LRD)

Developed in conjunction with Commonwealth Edison Company, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. now offers a unique tool to assist nuclear plant workers with dose reduction. In keeping with the “ALARA” (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) concept, the Large Rate Display reinforces dose minimization goals by displaying general area radiation dose rates. The Large Rate Display is a portable unit featuring 4” tall LED numbers. For areas with retransitionaled space, a smaller 2” model is available. Working in conjunction with Merlin Gerwin and incorporating an MGP electronic dosimeter as a dose rate sensor. The unit displays dose rates from <1 mR/hr to 9999 mR/hr. Strategic placement of the Large Rate Display in an RPA can highlight low dose waiting areas as well as warn workers to minimize time spent in higher dose rate areas. As these units update themselves automatically, they respond immediately to changing radiological conditions, offering a distinct advantage over dose rate placards commonly used in nuclear plants. Priced under $2,000.00 and available now, the Large Rate Display cost is rapidly recovered in lowered worker exposure, as was proven during ComEd / Byron Station’s recent record-setting low dose refueling outage. Byron’s Radiation Protection Manager likens the Large Rate Display to a wall clock, easily discernible by employees, and an important means to maximize the “ALARA” concept.
-- March 15, 2000

News Release #141 / Dresden Station D3R16 Outage

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Exelon Nuclear’s Dresden Station to provide personnel and equipment to remove foreign material inside the turbine-generator and extraction steam lines. Work shall be performed during the Dresden Station D3R16 refuel outage, which is currently scheduled to commence on or September 14th, 2000 for a duration of approximately 3 weeks. All work and services are to be provided “as and if” directed by Exelon Turbine Services.

News Release #142 / New Six Month Training Contract at Exelon's Byron Station

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Exelon Nuclear’s Byron Station to provide a technician to train the Byron Station Electrical Maintenance personnel to perform predictive and preventive maintenance on the Exelon owned robotics and camera equipment. The contract is a firm fixed price contract for the duration of 26 weeks. The firm fixed price contract includes all living and travel expenses for the technician.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. announces Mr. Brian Quinlan will be replacing Mr. Mick Mayfield as director of the Robotics Program at Exelon Nuclear Co. The Robotics Program supplies full time personnel on site to administer the Robotics Program at all sites. The program is based at the Byron Nuclear Facility. Mobile units loaded with highly specialized robotic and radiation tolerant video equipment will be ready for emergency services as well as scheduled outage activities. Warranty and service repairs as well as actual equipment operation will be accomplished by utilizing R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. field technicians and specially trained Exelon personnel. The contract is multi year renewable. This system wide coordination has realized savings for Exelon by utilizing required equipment, previously purchased for one site, at other sites.

News Release #143 / Braidwood Station A1R08 Outage

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Exelon Nuclear’s Braidwood Station to provide service technicians to support operating containment and station cameras, robotics equipment, configuration, and inspections associated with the fuel pool, fuel movement equipment, containment cameras and underwater camera inspections and surveillance’s required during the A1R08 refueling outage. All work is to be performed in accordance with Exelon’s Quality Assurance program under the direction of the Superintendent of Radiation Protection.

News Release #144 / Quad Cities Station Q2R15 Outage

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Exelon Nuclear’s Quad Cities Station to provide personnel to perform visual inspection of the bellow seal welds on (8) turbine extraction steam lines during Quad Cities Station spring outage Q2R15. The work scope consists of inspecting the inside diameters of seal welds on 4-30 inch lines, 2-24 inch lines, and 2-12 inch lines. Equipment will be provided by Exelon’s robotic program. Work activities will commence under the direction of the System Engineering and be subject to the Exelon Safety Program.

News Release #145

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Carolina Power & Light Company’s Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant to provide all services, supplies, tools, equipment, and transportation necessary to refurbish CP&L’s existing underwater camera and to operate the camera during foreign object search and retrieval (FOSAR) efforts as required during Refueling Outage 9. The work is scheduled to start on or about April 15, 2000 and will be completed no later than May 15, 2000.

News Release #146

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received an extension to an equipment maintenance and operations contract from Northeast Nuclear Energy Co. Millstone Nuclear Power Station.

The contract extension furnishes technicians, robotic machines, spare parts and expendables to support their robotics program as directed through December 31, 2000.

News Release #147

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Northeast Nuclear Energy Co. Millstone Nuclear Power Station to provide a field service technician to perform set up and testing, and to train operators on the proper use of the fuel verification camera system.

News Release #148

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Cogema Engineering Corporation, Hanford Site to provide the labor, materials, equipment, tools, supplies, incidentals, engineering and supervision required for the design and fabrication of a Dispersible Removal System (DRS). The DRS consists of equipment, hardware, and support systems necessary to remove dispersible material from the floor, trench and sump in Building 324 B-Cell at the Hanford site. The system must also package the material into engineered containers for disposal.

News Release #149

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Duke Power Company’s Oconee Nuclear Site to provide newly designed Large Rate Display (2” models and 4” models) for assisting nuclear plant workers with dose reduction. In keeping with the “ALARA” (As Low As Reasonable Achievable) concept, the Large Rate Display assists in meeting dose minimization goals by displaying general area radiation dose rates. The Large Rate Display is a portable unit featuring 4” tall LED numbers. The smaller 2” model is recommended for areas with retransitionaled space. Both units work in conjunction with Merlin Gerwin (MGP) by incorporating a MGP electronic dosimeter as a dose rate sensor, the unit displays dose rates from <1 mR/hr to 9999 mR/hr. Strategic placement of the Large Rate Display in an RPA can highlight low dose waiting areas as well as warn workers to minimize time spent in higher dose rate areas. These units update themselves automatically and respond immediately to changing radiological conditions, offering a distinct advantage over dose rate placards commonly used in nuclear plants. The Large Rate Display unit cost is rapidly recovered in lowered worker exposure, as was proven during Exelon / Byron Station’s recent record-setting low dose refueling outage. Byron’s Radiation Protection Manager likens the Large Rate Display to a wall clock, easily discernible by employees, and an important means for maximizing the “ALARA” concept.

News Release #150

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company to provide a fiber optic transceiver.

News Release #151

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Exelon Nuclear’s Quad Cities station to provide labor and robotic equipment as necessary to inspect the Moisture Separator drain lines for suspected foreign material. Work will commence under the direction of the Maintenance Superintendent and be subject to the requirements of the Exelon Safety Program.

News Release #152

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Exelon Nuclear’s Byron Station to provide newly designed Large Rate Display (2” models and 4” models) for assisting nuclear plant workers with dose reduction. In keeping with the “ALARA” (As Low As Reasonable Achievable) concept, the Large Rate Display assists in meeting dose minimization goals by displaying general area radiation dose rates. The Large Rate Display is a portable unit featuring 4” tall LED numbers. The smaller 2” model is recommended for areas with retransitionaled space. Both units work in conjunction with Merlin Gerwin (MGP) by incorporating a MGP electronic dosimeter as a dose rate sensor, the unit displays dose rates from <1 mR/hr to 9999 mR/hr. Strategic placement of the Large Rate Display in an RPA can highlight low dose waiting areas as well as warn workers to minimize time spent in higher dose rate areas. These units update themselves automatically and respond immediately to changing radiological conditions, offering a distinct advantage over dose rate placards commonly used in nuclear plants. The Large Rate Display unit cost is rapidly recovered in lowered worker exposure, as was proven during Exelon / Byron Station’s recent record-setting low dose refueling outage. Byron’s Radiation Protection Manager likens the Large Rate Display to a wall clock, easily discernible by employees, and an important means for maximizing the “ALARA” concept.

News Release #153

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Northeast Nuclear Energy Co., Millstone Nuclear Power Station to provide a Fuel Alignment and Serial Number Verification System.

News Release #154

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from the Tennessee Valley Authority Sequoyah Nuclear Facility to provide support services and equipment for the spring 2000 outage.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. brings extensive outage support experience to this assignment, particularly in the area of remote inspection, retrieval, and monitoring.

News Release #155

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Exelon Nuclear’s Quad Cities station to provide a Portable Video Surveillance System. The Portable Video Surveillance System is a wireless transmission and receiving system that utilizes internal circular polarized micro-strip antenna technology to provide real-time high-resolution black and white or color video and superior penetration through walls.

News Release #156

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Exelon Nuclear’s Zion Station to provide a 12 Video Signal Transmission (via Fiber Optic Link) from C.A.S. to S.A.S. System.

This system will allow up to sixteen coaxial composite video signals to be transmitted up to 1 km from C.A.S. through one multi mode fiber optic strand. On the receiving side at S.A.S., the multiplexed composite video from the fiber strand will be split into its 16 coaxial outputs.

News Release #157 / Paul Mills Named "Fitness For Duty Peer Review Officer"

Mr. Paul R. Mills of R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently been assigned additional corporate duties as R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. and subsidiary A.T.M. Inc.’s Fitness For Duty Peer Review Officer. This assignment includes program interpretation, mandated corrective action and compliance verification to the requirements of the program for both field and corporate office personnel. Mr. Mills is currently responsible for mechanical design integrity and fabrication for R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. nuclear robotics equipment. Mr. Mills will answer directly to the Fitness for Duty Program Administrator in this position.

News Release #158

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Exelon Nuclear’s Braidwood Station to provide operation training to RAD protection personnel on the R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. Camera System 500.

News Release #159

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Exelon Nuclear’s Braidwood Station to provide a Camera System 850.

System 850 is a cross-point matrix switching system that supports cameras with pan, tilt and zoom features. The System 850 concept is to provide optimum surveillance with minimum operator dependence. The system allows flexible control to a multitude of cameras through use of a matrix switcher and system controllers. The 850 large-scale system supports configurations of up to 8,192 video inputs, 1,024 video outputs and 128 system controller keyboards.

SYSTEM FEATURES:

Panasonic matrix switcher

Panasonic system controller keyboards

Panasonic video monitors

Panasonic combination cameras with 10X zoom pan and tilt

News Release #160

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from North Atlantic Energy Service Corporation’s Seabrook Station to provide services to inspect a number of lines suspected as tritium sources in the containment annulus of Seabrook Station.

News Release #161

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently successfully completed emergent work at Exelon Nuclear’s Quad Cities Station.

News Release #162 / HP Centralized Video/Audio/Dosimetry Monitoring System

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. successfully competed in North Atlantic Energy Service Corporation’s Request for Proposal for Equipment and Serves to provide a Health Physics Centralized Monitoring System and was awarded the contract. The system will be installed in NAESCO’s Seabrook Nuclear Power Station to support their upcoming outage in the fall of 2000. The system is “state of the art” in HP monitoring and fully embraces the ALARA concept by providing the HP technicians assigned to a remote monitoring station with key information from the field and audio response capability.

This state of the art design is one of many systems offered by R.O.V. Technologies, several of which are currently under contract.
-- May 24, 2000

News Release #163 / Wisconsin Public Service Corporation Extends Contract Through 2004

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a change order from Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPSC) to extend the current contract that exists between the two companies.

The contract to provide robotics to WPSC has been extended to December 31, 2004, and the dollar amount has been increased to cover the cost of manpower services for the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant refueling outages. Also included is the cost of equipment to upgrade the Kewaunee owned Submersible System supplied by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., to meet new ASME boiler and pressure vessel Code Section XI requirements. Training will be provided to plant I & C personnel in repair and preventative maintenance of the Submersible System.
-- June 21, 2000

1999

February 15, 1999

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Commonwealth Edison Company, LaSalle County Nuclear Station to provide necessary remote operated, radiation tolerant robotic equipment and service technicians to assist ComEd with the Unit 2 Suppression Pool VT3 Inspections.

February 15, 1999

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received an extension to an equipment maintenance and operations contract from Wisconsin Public Service Corporation to extend to December 31, 2000 for Kewaunee Nuclear Plant.

The current contract is for extended warranty and maintenance work for the previously supplied remote operated robotic inspection and retrieval system, catalogued as ROV Submersible System II. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has supplied the maintenance, rebuild services and equipment operation for outage support tasks, including inspections in the reactor cavity for component parts and a remote visual IVVI inspection on reactor vessel internals and upper internals, since 1991.

April 21, 1999

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently completed an In-Vessel "IVVI", FOSAR and additional vessel inspections as directed for South Carolina Electric & Gas Company, V.C. Summer Nuclear Plant.

The work was completed ahead of schedule and R.O.V. Technologies manufactured submersible inspection/work device was utilized for the inspections. The LSA equipment was leased from the ComEd Robotics Group with technicians furnished by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc.

April 21, 1999

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently supplied additional components to Entergy Operations, Inc., Waterford III Nuclear Plant for use with previously purchased R.O.V. Technologies Scarab I crawling/climbing device.

The equipment was used during the refuel #9 for the reactor head lift and head set for visual inspections. Refueling personnel were impressed with the clarity of pictures developed from the cameras as well as the performance of the vehicle

April 29, 1999

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided standard robotics outage support for Commonwealth Edison Company, Byron Nuclear Station. Non-standard and additional work performed during B1R09 included expansion of the radiation protection camera system to centralized monitoring including communication and remote dose monitoring, inspection and FME of the turbine oil piping system, visual support and ISI of the 8002A LSIV guide repair.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. also supplied three 5-function manipulators for Rx vessel fuel core inventory verification during fuel reload activities at ComEd, LaSalle County Nuclear Station. Two manipulators were mounted in the Rx vessel, in the steam separator guide pin holes. The two manipulators performed "on-the-fly" fuel orientation, fuel height and serial number inventory verifications, combining the Nuclear Group and licensed SRO with Reactor Services to work in concert during core reload. This allowed completion of all verifications to be accomplished within 5 minutes of the final fuel assembly being installed. The third manipulator was mounted in a spent fuel storage rack location testing the use of a mobile grid camera for spent fuel pool operations.

1998

July 31, 1998

Personal Contamination Monitor Alarm System

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has developed a surveillance system designed to view and record events at personal contamination monitors. The system is built with the concept of needing only one pan/tilt camera in a given field of view to observe multiple monitors. Each monitor is wired to an alarm transmitter. This transmitter waits for a signal from a monitor indicating that it has alarmed. The transmitter then sends a coded signal indicating which monitor has alarmed to the central monitoring station via twisted pair wire.

This control point consists of a microprocessor tied to the alarm board of a System 500A matrix switcher. The microprocessor will read which monitor has alarmed and command the camera to turn and view that personal contamination monitor. When the system has multiple alarms, it has the ability to switch between them based on predetermined parameters (i.e. time, level of priority, order received, or others as determined by the customer).

The system is capable of responding to 64 separate alarm inputs. Other types of monitors can be used such as tool friskers, hand held monitors, as well as pin switches used to detect door and window opening and closing.

Programming flexibility allows for a variety of camera tour sequences to suit the customer's needs.

July 31, 1998

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently supplied Entergy Operations, Inc., Waterford III Nuclear Station with a Scarab I wet or dry, crawling/climbing device. Features included with the crawler were a 125' umbilical cable, vehicle operator control console, tri-console, 24X zoom color turret camera with wet/dry light, spray mounting post with horizontal and vertical motion/180 degree side to side rotation, vacuum head assembly with 30' vacuum whip and Cam-loc fitting, plow squeegee with power lift/lower capability and multi-spray bar mounted to the vacuum chamber/plow assembly. An R.O.V. Technologies technician was provided to train site employees in the operation of the machine, during which time on site wet and dry testing was performed.

July 31, 1998

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided equipment and technical support to Entergy Operations, Inc., Waterford III Nuclear Station to aid in the cleanup of a spent resin spill.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. subcontracted its services to IceSolv, Inc. who in turn subcontracted to Molten Metals Technology of Tennessee, who acted as the General Contractor on the project.

Commonwealth Edison Company, as partners with R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., loaned the required R.O.V. Technologies manufactured equipment to the Waterford III Station for the project. Included in the loaned equipment was a Scarab II with Z-axis I boom, Scarab IIA with Z-axis II boom, 3-function manipulator, two pan & tilt units with 24X zoom color cameras, an office review console, two vehicle operator control consoles, remote communication equipment, equipment spare parts and tool kit. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. technicians functional checked all equipment before delivery.

Custom pan and tilt motors and bracketry for positioning the IceSolv, Inc. jet spray "wand" was designed and fabricated at the R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. Corporate Engineering and Testing Facility. The project was completed with no personnel contamination events and with less than 0.8 Man Rem. exposure (while the robotic equipment received over 100 Rem. exposure.

July 31, 1998

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided The Providence Group with a Scarab IIIH crawling/climbing device, technician support and training.

The newly developed Scarab IIIH is a Scarab II modified per customer requirements. The Scarab IIIH is constructed of a stainless steel body with the accessory material chosen to resist the caustic media (pH of 12) the crawler will encounter. A 350 foot long umbilical sectioned into 85 feet and a 265 foot umbilical facilitate operation in contaminated tanks at the Oakridge National Laboratory site.

The standard control console consists of a Vehicle Operators Control Console (VOCC) and a System Control and Recording Console (Tri-con). The VOCC is a highly sophisticated custom board driven vehicle control center. The framework is a solid cast aluminum enclosure with a bolted on switch, joystick and indicator laden cover and an integral heat sink panel. All power and control signals enter and leave through amphenol connectors and all internal devices are individually "ease of access" fused. All switches are positive response and the joysticks are proportional speed and self centering. All R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. system control and recording consoles (referred to as "Tri-con") are rack mounted in Calzone brand "floating case-in-case", shock-mounted shipping containers with removable front and rear covers as well as removable panels for maintenance or retro-fit. Features include.

Two monochrome, high resolution, commercial grade monitors and two color, high resolution, commercial grade monitor.
One SVHS, commercial grade, video cassette recorder; micro processor and freeze frame capabilities, scroll and shuttle features; distortion free
One commercial grade, video hard copy processor; Polaroid type pictures from live action or SVHS freeze frame; microprocessor capability, alpha numeric character generation on screen
One control console panel
Power supply - for all electronics
External connectors for all cables
Meter panels
Stacking cups and rear rack rails

July 31, 1998

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided to Commonwealth Edison Company, Byron Nuclear Station, a state of the art multi-function machine to remove the silt and sludge buildups that occur in nuclear power plant cooling towers. Equipment previously developed to remove these buildups are job specific and cannot operate while the plant is on line. This vehicle is designed to operate while the plant is on line, and can be retooled with various components for operation in changing environments; i.e.: amounts and types of debris, surface condition, surface configuration, wet or dry, etc.

The system is comprised of a mobile delivery/operations trailer and a crawling vehicle. The trailer may be operated with either supplied or self generated power. It houses the control and monitoring equipment, computers, and video recording equipment, as well as having a maintenance area with spare parts and lifting crane. It is heated and air conditioned for year round use. The crawling vehicle features electro hydraulic drive mechanisms, configurable tracks and equipment platform, and a positionable pump assembly for powering through the debris to be removed. Future capabilities will include computer control operation, continuous positioning information overlaid to a computer screen for exact positioning knowledge, proximity sensing for obstacle identification, laser distance measurements and the ability to profile the cleaned areas by SONAR and high resolution video.

July 31, 1998

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided to Tennessee Valley Authority, Watts Bar Nuclear Station, a System I submersible. The ROV System I includes the underwater vehicle, vehicle operator control console, minicon video system, umbilical and spares kit. This particular vehicle also had a gripper attachment with an additional Vid 1 light and color camera with tilt capability mounted on the front of the support frame with tilt capability.

July 31, 1998

As part of the ongoing Robotics Program contract with Commonwealth Edison Company, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. is supplying the Byron Station with a Tendon Sleeve Gripper Device. This tool will grasp loose sheathing within the tendon sleeves for removal. The tool includes SCH-40 aluminum tube sections with guide fins, a swivel system, a 7/16" OD 125' wire rope with associated fittings, mounting brackets for a miniature camera and a gripper assembly. The tool is currently undergoing mock-up testing at the R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. Corporate Engineering and Testing Facility.

October 28, 1998

A trio was "mugged" (received mugs) during the outage turnover meeting at Tennessee Valley Authority's Sequoyah Nuclear Plant. Dan Judge of R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., Ed McClure (Refuel) of Sequoyah and Terry Davis (Rad Con) of Sequoyah were recognized for work they performed to keep critical path on schedule.

These three men, working together, retrieved a 3/8" washer off the lower core plate. This involved precise and tedious work to prevent the washer from going below the core plate, possibly causing delays and interrupting critical path work that was being done. The work was successfully completed utilizing an R.O.V. Technologies radiation tolerant submersible with a miniature electric gripper as one of its tools.

Tennessee Valley Authority owns multiple R.O.V. Technologies systems and utilizes R.O.V. Technologies technicians during required uses.

October 30, 1998

At Consolidated Edison's Indian Point-2 Station, a vessel containment inspection was made under full power in order to determine the source of noises detected by the Digital Metal Impact Monitoring System (DMIMS). The radiological conditions in the area to be inspected called for the use of an R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. remotely operated crawler robot called the Scarab IIIC. A rad monitoring device was attached to the robot to determine the radiation exposure that a person would have received doing the same inspection. Eight rem was the exposure that was recorded on the robot. This is double the annual limit for radiation exposure for an individual worker.

Indian Point-2 owns multiple R.O.V. Technologies radiation tolerant, wet or dry systems and utilizes R.O.V. Technologies technicians during required equipment use.

November 27, 1998

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided equipment and service technicians to support operating robotics equipment, inspections, and the refurbishment of the robotics equipment that was required during the A1R07 Steam Generator Replacement Outage at Commonwealth Edison's Braidwood Nuclear Plant.

Robotics devices are procedurally required for most aspects of reactor vesse.
disassembly, inspection, spent fuel removal and shuffling, FOSAR, refueling and vessel reassembly. Additional emergent projects were also completed.

1997

April 4, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has been awarded a contract with Portland General Electric Company to provide all design, fabrication, inspection, labor, equipment, and supervision for the Trojan Nuclear Plant Spent Fuel Pool Floor Cleanup.

The Trojan Nuclear Plant spent fuel rack design features a multitude of support gusset weldments which will require customizing the R.O.V. Technologies Scarab II unit in order for it to travel freely through the structural maze and perform its cleaning and inspection functions.

April 4, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has received a renewal of a previously issued multi-year purchase order from Tennessee Valley Authority. The purchase order is an indefinite quantity term agreement for remote operated vehicle parts and services, and will be in effect through February 9, 1998.

A contract has also been awarded to provide one technician to support the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Unit 1 Cycle 8 outage. Previously purchased robotic equipment will be used for pre-outage preparation and support of the outage itself. The outage is estimated to start on April 16, 1997 and last 4 days.

April 4, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has been awarded a contract from Commonwealth Edison Company to provide field technicians, remote operated robotics equipment, and video equipment to support the Quad Cities Station Q2R14, Dresden Station D3R14, Braidwood Station A1R06 and A2R06 and Byron Station spring refueling outages. Work scope is including the set-up, operation, maintenance, and tear down of equipment. Equipment being used includes subs, crawlers, video recording and video enhancement equipment.

Additionally, a contract was awarded for the set-up and cleaning of the Quad Cities Station Unit 2 vessel flange and RPV head flange. Equipment will include two high resolution complete camera setups for recording the area before and after cleaning, and for producing digital quality tapes. R.O.V. Technology's field technicians are to perform the set-up, operation, maintenance, disassembly, packaging and deconning of the equipment.

March 1, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has been awarded a contract from Commonwealth Edison
Company to provide labor and support during the Braidwood Station spring outage.

March 1, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has been awarded a contract from Commonwealth Edison
Company to provide labor and support for the Dresden Station D3R14 spring outage.

April 4, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has been awarded a contract from Commonwealth Edison
Company, Byron Nuclear Station to supply a Submersible ROV System I. The system will include a vehicle operator control console, the underwater vehicle, 125' umbilical cable and a mini-control console.

A. Vehicle Operators Control Console Includes:
Vehicle power on/off.
Vehicle thruster on/off.
Horizontal thrust joystick, proportional speed and turn degree, all degrees, forward and reverse.
Vertical thrust control dial.
Variable controlled lighting circuit.
Manipulator control circuitry, slow and deliberate.
Half-speed control circuitry (thrusters).
Individually fused circuits.
Ground fault verification and test circuitry.
Twenty foot heavy duty three conductor power supply cable to control console including MS connector mount to control console.
Digital depth readout.

B. Underwater Vehicle Includes.

Two horizontal thrusters, housed, double sealed, underwater pluggable.
One vertical thruster, housed, double sealed, underwater pluggable.
One camera and light tilt mechanism.
One 200 watt semi-spot underwater light.
One modified housed underwater camera, underwater pluggable, radiation tolerant. The camera system features constant focus, >seven hundred horizontal TV line reception, miniature housed, tube type video pick up devices. These cameras operate with any control or computer console manufactured by R.O.V. Technologies. The tubes can be replaced at the factory or field service is available. Low lux requirements - five lux, 0.3 footcandles. Minimum gamma tolerance tests to date indicate no appreciable picture degradation in acute fields of < 1,000,000 R/HR. Cumulative dose in fluctuating fields up to fifty R/HR show no picture degradation < 5 X 1,000,000. Minimum neutron tolerance tests to date indicate no appreciable picture degradation in operating drywell fields of approximately 300 MR/HR for eighteen months. (cumulative dose => two X 1,000,000.) Total acute dose is not available greater than 300 MR/HR.
Stainless steel tubing (.049) wall 5/8" OD crash frame including propeller guards and counterweight mounts. (All welded pressure vessel.)
Imron coated solid syntactic foam flotation block and side panels manufactured for ease of decontamination.

C. One 125', thirty-seven Conductor With Three Coax Cables, Neutrally Buoyant Umbilical and Includes:

Underwater, pluggable connectors for all functions at vehicle end.
Thirty seven pin Seacon or equivalent underwater connector within ten feet of ROV enabling umbilical to vehicle separation.
Amphenol MS connector at control console end as required for conductors.
Spare underwater connector for future additions.
Solid color for optimum visibility.

D. Mini-Control Console For System I Includes:

Two to four (as required) high resolution, commercial grade, monochrome monitors.
One SVHS recorder - commercial grade with micro processor capability, including scroll and shuttle features.
One video hard copy processor (polaroid type pictures from live action or still SVHS frame) - commercial grade with micro processor capability and alpha numeric character generation on screen and copy.
One control console panel.
One video signal splitter (one signal in, four signals out to 500').
Power supply - electronics as required, including power trim and balance equipment.
External connectors as required, for all cables.
Terminal block and connector assembly.
All R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. console equipment is rack mounted in Anvil shipping containers with or without casters (depending on size and use). Each console has removable front and rear panels for easy accessibility to components for both operation and maintenance. Umbilical attachments to the console are attached with amphenol standard MS connectors.

April 4, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has been awarded a contract from Commonwealth Edison
Company, Byron Nuclear Station to supply a Scarab II vehicle.

The remote operated crawling/climbing Scarab II system is a user friendly tri camera/light multi use vehicle. This unit is designed to negotiate obstacles up to seven inches in height with its tilting front and rear drive tracks. It is capable of visual inspections, video measurement, retrieval, vacuuming, high pressure jet-spraying and radiation surveying (both dose rate and smears). The system includes an underwater 125' umbilical, vehicle operator's control console, and minicon video system.

April 4, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has received a renewable extension to a previously issued purchase order to provide Robotics Program Administration for the COMED Robotics Program. Mr. Mick Mayfield, Vice President, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., will continue his assignment at Byron Station and will support the Robotics Program Activities at all six COMED Nuclear Sites through December of 1997.

August 4, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently completed a contract with Portland General Electric Company for cleaning the Trojan Nuclear Plant Spent Fuel Pool Floor. The project, which was completed on schedule and within budget constraints, included complete vacuuming and debris removal from the entire 1,128.4 square feet of the fuel pool floor, 96 bridge plates and fuel rack support feet.

The low overhead clearance and shear-mass of the fuel rack support gussets required modification of the standard R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. Scarab II submersible crawler and the fabrication of several custom accessories.

The base robotic and surveillance equipment were provided on a rental basis through a unique blanket partnering agreement formed between R.O.V. Technologies and Commonwealth Edison Robotics Division, for both contaminated and non-contaminated rad tolerant, wet or dry equipment.

Project controls and acceptance criteria were administered through an R.O.V.
Technologies, Inc. generated process control procedure. All areas were video recorded for acceptance and record.

August 4, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Commonwealth Edison Company, Braidwood Nuclear Station to provide service technicians, materials and procedures as needed to support robotic equipment for a fuel pool under fuel rack (remote) cleanup.

August 4, 1997
NEU Millstone, Seabrook, C.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided Northeast Nuclear Energy Service Corporation, Seabrook Station with robotic support of the reactor vessel, disassembly core offload, core reload and reassembly, reactor head ISI (remote), and cavity cleaning (remote). An R.O.V. Technologies technician was present to ensure maximum efficiency of the recently purchased ROV equipment and to guarantee acceptable vehicle service. Due to R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. camera support, significant dose reduction was accomplished during upper guide structure moves.

This is part of an ongoing contract held with Northeast Nuclear Energy Service Corporation to furnish technicians, robotic machines, spare parts and expendables to support their robotics program as directed through December 31, 1997.

August 8, 1997

R. O. V. Technologies, Inc., under contract to Argonne National Laboratory provided valuable assistance and support in the remediation of the Spent Fuel Pool at CP-5, an experimental reactor undergoing decommissioning. Numerous objects, including fuel weights, cables, reactor experiment holders and other foreign matter was removed and readied for shipment or prepared for final dispositioning. The remote handling tools, filter pump and R. O. V. Technologies, Inc. manufactured Scarab I crawling device with vacuum head was furnished by the Commonwealth Edison Company Robotics Group from the Byron Station.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. provides the technical lead to the COMED Robotics Program through a partnership established to promote robotics use and share costs among the 6 COMED nuclear sites. The Robotics Program and R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. have been instrumental in loaning equipment and providing technicians to support activities at other nuclear utility and research sites.

December 9, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided service technicians and materials to support operating robotics equipment during Commonwealth Edison Company, Braidwood Nuclear Station A1RO6 and A2RO6 refuel outages.

Both units performed their 10 year core barrel removal and inspection utilizing a custom camera system designed, installed and operated by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. Both removals and reinstallations were accomplished without incident. In addition to standard outage activities, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. provided support for Unit Two's "under head" inspection with the newly developed computerized CRD and Thermal Couple Funnel Inspection Device. This device provides for high quality, repeatable inspection in less than 50% of the time required by conventional systems.

December 9, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently converted the Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation, Wolf Creek Nuclear Station Submersible Inspection Device from a non radiation hardened machine to a radiation hardened machine compatible with R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. video, umbilical and control equipment.

A new back plate was built with a wet or dry Seacon 37-pin connector and terminal strips mounted on the back side to utilize a standard neutrally buoyant underwater cable. A radiation tolerant zoom camera was installed, and pan and tilt motors were reconfigured to operate with the R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. equipment. Also installed was a back focus adjustable camera. This camera allows the depth of field to be adjusted by the operator while inspecting. The ballast was modified to achieve proper buoyancy as required, and an umbilical strain relief was supplied.

December 9, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided technical support for Tennessee Valley Authority, Watts Bar Nuclear Station Unit 1 Cycle 1 Outage. An ISI inspection was successfully performed of the reactor vessel.

Technical support was also provided at TVA, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant to support the Unit 2 Cycle 8 Outage. Included in the service was an inspection of the reactor pressure vessel and reactor pressure vessel upper internals. A remote vacuum of the reactor flange area was also performed. Critical path time savings were noted. An ROV System I Submersible was used to perform all inspections. A Scarab II crawling/climbing vehicle was used to perform the vacuuming, and FME work.

December 9, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently performed an upgrade to Submersible Consoles at Commonwealth Edison Company. These modifications were made to reduce the weight of individual consoles. The design changes will make consoles easier to move and reduce the potential of back injuries involving lifting, while maintaining the original electrical and mechanical quality standards.

December 9, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently provided a technician to Duke Energy Corporation, Catawba Nuclear Station for the purpose of training station technicians in the operation and maintenance of the Catawba owned Scarab II remote crawler. The training covered operation of the crawler for multiple functions, including inspection, retrieval and vacuuming.

December 9, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently filled a contract to provide a CRD & Thermal Couple Guide Funnel Inspection Device to Commonwealth Edison Company.

This project provided Commonwealth Edison Co. with an inspection device that provides a quality inspection of PWR-CRD and Thermal Couple guide funnels and associated tube to head penetration welds. It is designed to mount onto ComEd's existing gimbled head (manufactured by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc.) and reduces the time required for inspection (as measured in past practice) by more than 50%. The device is designed with the option of completing the inspection activity manually with positional readouts on gimble head rotation, camera tilt, cross-slide, and accessory lift position or it may be programmed for fully automatic inspection and video recording. In addition to inspection capabilities, the device is designed to readily accept welding and machining/grinding equipment also furnished as a complete system by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. An actual size, sectional mock-up was built and all functions demonstrated at R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. corporate engineering and test facility.

December 9, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently supplied Commonwealth Edison Company, Byron Station with a modified advanced model spent fuel rack vacuum wand. This is part of an ongoing robotics contract to supply equipment and service technicians to all six ComEd nuclear facilities.

The advanced model spent fuel rack vacuum wand is in some ways similar to the combination cable guide and vacuum wand that is already manufactured by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. The advance model's primary component is the split case aluminum vacuum chamber that is designed to provide an evacuation flow that is matched to the two inch suction line. The vacuum chamber contains upper and lower vacuum side channels separated by a 360 degree wall contact brush as well as twelve strategically located bottom vacuum ports. The vacuum chamber is engineered to provide debris removal in both directions of operation with an over balance of flow directed to the lower side channels and bottom ports as the majority of debris dislodgment will be in the downward stroke. The side brushes are replaceable and may be custom sized to specific requirements.

New features include a custom machined vacuum manifold that allows the insertion and use of a standard mini-SeaLite and tube camera (both stocked in the ComEd Robotics Committee equipment inventory) and bracketry to hold them. The light/camera feature provides the vacuum operator with continuous visual guidance and results of the process.

Additional enhancements include new vacuum supply hose and operator's control shaft connections. The vacuum supply hose connects to the mast in a perpendicular plane just above the fuel racks (when the vacuum is in its lowest position). The operator's control shaft is a plugged bottom Master Lee Female Slip Joint that continues directly up from the mast. This arrangement provides operator friendly yet efficient operation and ease of movement.

December 9, 1997

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently completed a Spent Fuel Pool remediation project at Commonwealth Edison's Braidwood Nuclear Station. The project included complete vacuuming of the under rack floor area (2,046 square feet) with access via the BPRA tool opening (2 feet x 2 feet) located at one corner of the pool, removal and identification of all debris located during vacuuming, and in-rack vacuuming. The in-rack vacuuming was partially complete (region 1 only) due to time constraints for A2R06 outage preparations.

The project was executed in accordance with a site approved R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. special process control procedure. In-rack vacuuming will continue after outage work is complete to clean all open fuel cells.

Cleaning of the Spent Fuel Pool became necessary due to water clarity issues related to silicas in the water. The cleaning project was to keep fuel pool activities from becoming critical path during outage. During A2R06, all fuel pool activities occurred as per the schedule.

1996

January 3, 1996

NEWLY FORMED CORPORATION FOR R.O.V. TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

President, J. J. Judge, Jr. and Vice President, Mick Mayfield have jointly announced the incorporation of a sister company called Advanced Technologies, Management, Inc.

The new company, incorporated in the state of Vermont as a "C" corporation will add flexibility to R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. in the supply of certain classifications and amounts of personnel during peak manpower periods, related to nuclear maintenance outage activities, nationwide.

The year end board meeting also finalized key marketing strategies for 1996 and authorized the formation of a formal R & D group within the company.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. received an order from Commonwealth Edison Company, Byron Nuclear Station for two additional Preventative Maintenance Monitoring Systems. (PMMS) Each system consists of two high resolution color cameras with 25 mm lens mounted on adjustable magnetic based brackets and two rack mounted color monitors housed in a small, shippable container.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. received an order from Commonwealth Edison Company, Robotics Group for spare parts including radiation tolerant cameras, drive motors, thrusters and expendable items. The spare parts provide an on site inventory. This allows the Robotics Group the ability to provide immediate repair and refurbishment of the COMED Robotics Group remotely operated equipment, when necessary.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has received a contract to supply a track upgrade to the Northeast Nuclear Energy CO, Millstone Nuclear Power Station owned Scarab I wet or dry crawler. The upgrade removes the four (4) wheels and replaces them with a ribbed track. The optional upgrade is available for other utility owned Scarab I crawlers.

ROV System V Item #4A P/N 132-01-129 - Miniature RAD tolerant underwater neutrally buoyant remote operated vehicle.
R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently redesigned its standard submersible RAD tolerant ROV to a smaller configuration. The new size will allow for BWR upper core grid and lower core grid entry into the core area and lower head area respectively. Additionally the smaller size will allow for easier BWR anulus inspection and provide easier access into limited access areas in PWR Rx vessels and associated systems. The new machine developed under contract will utilize most of the standard equipment currently used as standard equipment in the standard ROV systems. The exceptions include most Add on equipment such as manipulators, tilt mechanisms, etc. RAD tolerant cameras, lights, cabling, recording consoles and vehicle operation control consoles, etc. will remain the same.

Promotions

Mr. Troy W. Dennen of R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently been assigned additional corporate duties as R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. and subsidiary A.T.M. Inc. Nuclear Fitness For Duty Peer Review Officer. This newly created position will include interpretation, mandated corrective action outline and compliance verification of the requirements of the program for both field and corporate office personnel. Mr. Dennen is currently ultimately responsible for electronic design and construction for R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. nuclear robotics equipment. Mr. Dennen will answer directly to the nuclear fitness for duty program administrator in the newly created position.

September 16, 1996

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently performed a unique service during plant operation for COMED's LaSalle County Station. The project involved visual inspection of debris located in the service water intake structure pump suction bowl area at the dual unit facility. The inspection was performed underwater with a Scarab I equipped with a Z-axis telescoping camera boom, in close proximity to the operational service water intake pumps. Visibility was estimated at 12"-16" due to the turbidity of the water and the extreme flow. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. technicians, working in conjunction with the COMED robotics group, modified a COMED owned, R.O.V. Tech supplied Scarab I wet or dry crawling device to view, record, and sample debris from the service water intake pump bowl area. SVHS tapes and hard copied pictures with alpha numeric measurements were provided during the inspection and retrieval process. This emergency service allowed plant management personnel to assess the situation and respond as necessary during dual unit operation.

September 16, 1996

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. prepared and presented an on site robotics training program at the Consolidated Edison Indian Point 2 Nuclear Station. Course content included set up, operation and vehicle maintenance for the utility owned submarine and Scarab IIIC wet or dry crawler. Inspection techniques and retrievals were practiced in the Unit 1 spent fuel pool.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. using supplied equipment from the ComEd Robotics Group, supported the clean up and decontamination of the Unit 0 transfer canal at the COMED Zion Nuclear Station. Upon cleanup completion, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. supported site engineering and the ALARA group during refurbishment of the Unit 1 and 2 fuel transfer canals.

September 16, 1996

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. delivered to the ComEd LaSalle County Nuclear Station a Pentium based Computer Enhanced Video Imaging System (CEVIS) that uses a specially designed 100 mhz CPU on a true 64-bit bus to integrate a high resolution video capture card with a local super VHS recorder or any remote source of composite video, a 600 DPI scanner (SCSI) based, a photographic color printer, a 300 DPI laser printer, and a suite of software tools that promotes maximum input and output flexibility. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. used its extensive video capture and remote inspection experience to design a system that maximizes the quality of documents while minimizing the effort required to produce meaningful high resolution color presentation. The entire system is encased in three shock mounted Anvil cases ergonomically designed for ease of operation. The Cevis has been used in numerous utility functions including core shroud inspections. A nuclear program experienced R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. field computer engineering group is available to operate the CEVIS at site for special tasks.

September 16, 1996

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. developed at the request of the COMED Robotics Group, a remote weld head supported on a Scarab II wet or dry crawler with Z-axis for Rx head funnel repair at COMED/Byron Station. Each thermal couple sleeve was remotely brushed, cleaned and optically measured using a second Scarab II with Z-axis. A total of five thermal sleeves were repaired with a minimum man Rem exposure of 600 mRem. The dose was received outside the Rx head from equipment handling. There were no entries made under the Rx head.

September 16, 1996

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently delivered to COMED LaSalle Station a multi- camera surveillance and monitoring system called "Camera System 500".
The Camera System 500 consists of a matrix switcher and system controller. This configuration allows for flexible control of 24 cameras and one monitor. Through the use of user friendly on screen menus, setups, programmable sequences and tours can be easily established for customized monitoring requirements. The modular construction allows for flexible expansion for a variety of future needs.

October 22, 1996

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. delivered to the ComEd LaSalle County Nuclear Station a control console to include a rack mounted monitor, quad splitter and camera control unit. This console is to be used in conjunction with LaSalle Station fifteen camera surveillance system previously purchased from ROV TECH, Inc. in 1995.

November 4, 1996

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. supplied robotic support and completed multiple tasks during the COMED/Byron Station 1996 Fall Outage (B1R06). With support from the COMED Robotics Group and existing equipment the following tasks were performed.

- Containment general area camera system
- Steam generator platform RP monitoring camera system
- Live video to ALARA brief room, Shift Engineering office and ROV TECH Robotics Office via area camera system
- Fuel transfer camera system
- Rx head removal - installation support
- Upper internals removal - installation support
- Core offload - reload support
- Spent fuel pool inventory, fuel insert swap, four sided inspection and debris inspection support
- Rx vessel ISI visual inspection support
- Rx head inspection and repair support
- Serial number verification support
- Core mis-alignment verification support
- Wet Rx flange cleaning
- Rx flange de-watering
- Dry Rx flange cleaning
- Cavity vacuuming support
- RTDBME closeout support

Byron Station owned equipment (previously purchased from ROV TECH, INC.
used for the above tasks included

- Multi area camera surveillance systems
- Remotely operated crawling devices with Z-Axis, manipulator, vacuum and UT attachments
- Remotely operated submersible with yoke camera attachment
- Rx head alignment camera system
- Fuel alignment and serial number verification system
- Office and field review consoles for live, remote viewing
- Video distribution camera system with telex and dedicated communication
- Core mapping verification system

November 1, 1996

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a contract from Duke Power Company, Catawba Nuclear Station to provide a rad tolerant, wet or dry crawling/climbing device catalogued as R.O.V. Technologies Scarab II. The remote operated telerobotic device will initially carry a three-function manipulator and two vacuum attachments. Operator training for remote operation of purchased equipment is included with the order.

The wet or dry crawling/climbing Scarab II machine with attached vacuum head devices and three-function manipulator constitute the mechanical part of the mobile reactor cavity vacuum inspection, and work performing robotic system. The control console is a remotely stationed command center from which all operator directed actions originate. The SVHS video recorder and color video printer permit a continuous before and after account of task performance. The recorded view is selectable from each of three vehicle high resolution, rad tolerant cameras.
The control console and machine are linked via an umbilical to the crawler and interconnect to the vehicle operating control console from the main control console.
The supplied vacuum heads are designed for specific cleaning tasks in tight areas such as ex core nuclear instrumentation covers adjacent to the Rx vessel flange and cavity liner floor and wall corners; or for broad floor cleaning.

The system is modular and the modules interchange and work as complimentary components with previously purchased R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. systems such as submersibles.

December 2, 1996

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently completed outage support service for the 1996 COMED/LaSalle County Station Fall Outage (L1R07) via the COMED robotics group. Support services included: 1) Plant wide Area camera systems set up with live video transmission to ALARA briefing offices. 2) Dryer and separator examinations utilizing remote rad tolerant submersible devices with live video transmittal to the ISI group offices in the administration building.

November 5, 1996

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently successfully completed outage support services for the ISI group at Wisconsin Public Service Company, Kewaunee Nuclear Facility. A rad tolerant submersible, classified as ROV System II, previously supplied to the station by R.O.V. Tech, Inc. was utilized for the inspections. Technicians from R.O.V. Tech, Inc. were supplied, under an ongoing technical support contract, for the remote Rx vessel work under the direct supervision of the station ISI personnel.

November 5, 1996

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has developed a rack mounted video inspection system. Known as The Office Review Console, it is equipped with dual commercial grade SVHS Video recorders, a telemetric system that uses a dedicated telephone line for video transmittal, and connectors that allow installation of a character generator for onscreen titling during the editing process. The Office Review Console (System 65) may be used with live input from high resolution radiation tolerant cameras supplied by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. or any composite video or S video signal. The SVHS format allows production of a high clarity master tape that provides the visual examiner a high resolution image for determination of the as found condition.

November 5, 1996

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has introduced a new track design for the Scarab I wet or dry crawler. The track pads are stainless steel backed and mounted on heavy drive chain. Besides offering increased traction and mobility, the new tracks provide self cleaning due to the unique gap arrangement between the pads and chain. The new track design is available for existing Scarab I crawlers manufactured by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc.

November 5, 1996

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has developed a new attachment for its line of underwater, rad tolerant, wet or dry crawling/climbing vehicles. The Waste Removal End Effector Attachment enhances the abilities of the currently manufactured Z-axis extendible tiltable boom which is designed to provide video inspections at greater heights. The new end effector attachment is capable of removing salt cake type concentrated radioactive waste from the inside of storage containers and tanks. The device is operated remotely to reduce or eliminate dose, confined space, and airborne radiological problems.

December 2, 1996

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a one year renewable extension to a previously issued purchase order to provide Robotics Program Administration for the COMED Robotics Program. Mr. Mick Mayfield, Vice President, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. will continue his assignment at Byron Station and will support the Robotic Program Activities at all six COMED Nuclear Sites through December of 1997.

November 8, 1996

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has received an order from Northeast Nuclear Energy Services to furnish support technicians, robotic machines, spare parts and expendables to support Northeast Nuclear Energy Services Robotic Program as directed through December 31, 1997.

Additionally, Northeast Nuclear Energy Service issued R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. purchase orders for specific rad tolerant wet or dry operating robotic systems including a computerized fuel alignment and verification system and Rx Head Alignment System.

1995

May 1, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently received orders from Commonwealth Edison Company, Robotics Group, for the manufacture and operation of several systems including; a computer enhanced video imaging system, a heavy duty Z-axis equipped wet or dry radiation tolerant crawling device, a "O" entry reactor head alignment camera system, multiple remote camera surveillance systems, a vacuum head modification to an existing R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. Scarab I and a Scarab III multi-function crawler.

May 1, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. developed a Pentium based Computer Enhanced Video Imaging System (CEVIS) that uses a specially designed 100 mhz CPU on a true 64-bit bus to integrate a high resolution video capture card with a local super VHS recorder or any remote source of composite video, a 600 DPI scanner (SCSI based), a photographic color printer, a 300 DPI laser printer, and a suite of software tools that promotes maximum input and output flexibility. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. used its extensive video capture and remote inspection experience to design a system that maximizes the quality of documents while minimizing the effort required to produce meaningful high resolution color presentations. The entire system is encased in three shock mounted Anvil cases ergonomically designed for ease of operation. The CEVIS has been used in numerous utility functions including core shroud inspections. A nuclear program experienced R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. field computer engineering group is available to operate the CEVIS at site for special tasks.

May 1, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has contracted with Commonwealth Edison for outage support at the following sites; Byron Station, Dresden Station, and Zion Station. A contract was also issued for Union Electric Company's Callaway station.
R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. brings extensive outage support experience to these assignments, especially in the area of remote inspection, retrieval, and monitoring. ALARA key notes R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. activities.

May 1, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently completed emergency support services at the Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Facility. Critical path delays were avoided by repair and operation of previously purchased ROV systems.

May 1, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a multi year service contract with Tennessee Valley Authority for the Sequoyah Nuclear Facility. The contract included frozen labor rates through 1996.

Services supplied during the Sequoyah Unit Two Cycle 6 ten year ISI included video verification of clearances for the lower internals removal and replacement. The TVA Sequoyah owned underwater submarine and Scarab II, purchased from R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. were used. The machines were operated remotely by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. technicians and resulted in extremely low total man-rem exposure for both evolutions of 115 mR. The visual examinations performed using the R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. submarine included upper and lower internals plus the Rx vessel interior examination. Utilizing the remote submarine to perform the reactor vessel interior ISI examination reduced the critical path examination from 12 hours (using hand held cameras) to 2 hours. Additionally, while trying to reset the reactor head, a CRD jack shaft was bent and all refueling operations in upper containment stopped. The remote submarine was used to help determine the extent of damage and to retrieve any loose parts. Use of the submarine helped reduce personnel exposure and speed the recovery time. Retrieval of foreign objects was accomplished using the manipulator supplied with the submarine.

A visual inspection of the Unit 1 vessel interior and CRD flexures will commence with the scheduled 1995 fall outage.

May 1, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has contracted with Commonwealth Edison Company to supply full time personnel on site to administer a newly formed Robotics Program at all 6 sites. The program is being directed by Mr. Mick Mayfield, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. Vice President. The program will be based at the Byron Nuclear Facility. Mobile units loaded with highly specialized robotic and radiation tolerant video equipment will be ready for emergency services as well as scheduled outage activities. Warranty and service repairs as well as actual equipment operation will be accomplished utilizing R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. field technicians and specially trained Commonwealth Edison personnel. The contract is multi year renewable. This local coordination has already realized savings for Commonwealth Edison by using systems as required previously purchased for one site, at other sites.

May 4, 1995

The wet or dry crawling/climbing device, Scarab II, is a motor driven platform used for remote visual inspections, dose rate surveys, or video measurement. The machine is adaptable for vacuum attachment or high pressure jet spray. Front and rear track heights are remotely adjustable, making the Scarab II an ideal under rack inspection vehicle for spent fuel storage pools.

The Scarab II is powered from 5 DC motors and is controlled through a 37 conductor neutrally buoyant umbilical with four coax cables. Its operation is directed from a user friendly control console which operates in conjunction with three monitors, an SVHS video cassette recorder and a hard copy processor. All are rackmounted in an Anvil case.

Due to the Scarab II unique track design, it is capable of climbing over objects 8 inches high. The crawler is equipped with forward and rear driving cameras and a pan and tilt turret mounted camera. All cameras are high radiation tolerant closed circuit tube type cameras.

December 5, 1995

During the spring of 1995 the Commonwealth Edison Byron Station Unit 1 avoided an unplanned shutdown by remotely ascertaining the source of a leak in containment. The utility used the station owned Scarab I crawler (manufactured by R.O.V. Technologies) to make a full power entry into containment to determine the leak source and dose rate. The leak, a packing leak in a feed water valve was videotaped and maintenance was able to pre-stage the repair. Reactor power was reduced to 40% MWT, entry was made, repairs successfully completed and the plant was returned to power. Total time required for the evolution was 8 hours with the plant on line versus an unplanned 3 day shutdown.

Another containment entry at reduced power was required during the fall of 1995. The leak was found using a portable remote video system manufactured by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. The leak was located on the chemical injection high point pressure vent valve.

December 6, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently completed a contract for outage support at Consolidated Edison, Indian Point 2. Work included operation and maintenance of the utility owned Refuel ROV submarine, 10 year Rx ISI examination video, and numerous retrievals of foreign objects. The Refuel ROV is equipped with a three function manipulator and high radiation tolerant cameras manufactured and supplied by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. In addition, the Refuel ROV monitored the movements of the upper and lower reactor internals packages. Inherent to these tasks are verification of adequate clearances from the Rx vessel and respective equipment stands. Prior to final replacement of the upper internals, a video inspection of the lower flange area and fuel alignment pins was accomplished using the Refuel ROV while the upper internals were suspended over the vessel guide tubes.

December 6, 1995

During the fall of 1995, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. supplied a Scarab I remotely operated wet/dry crawling system with a three function manipulator arm to Northeast Nuclear Millstone Station. Additions to the standard operator control console includes a video monitor console and a hard copy processor. The system will be used for visual inspections performed at high dose locations within the plant and for foreign material retrievals and inspection in the moisture separator pit and spent fuel pool.

December 6, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently supplied an office review console to the COMED/Dresden Unit I station. The office review console consists of two SVHS recorders with editing capability, a hard copy processor, character generator for on-screen titling, a color monitor, and a telemetric transmitter and receiver set . When connected through a dedicated telephone line, the image can be transferred from the office review console to a remote receiver. The console is intended for the exclusive use of Dresden Unit I while it undergoes implementation of the SAFSTOR program that will ultimately result in dry storage of the spent fuel.

December 6, 1995

As part of the decommissioning during 1995 R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. assisted in the research and development of a suitable method for containment of unidentified sludge and debris and completion of the COMED/Dresden Unit I spent fuel pool, transfer pool and transfer tunnel cleanup and integrity inspection.

The cleanup resulted in significant radiation source reduction and culminated with the successful placement and welding of a blind flange to the transfer tube. The transfer tube connected the fuel building to the fuel storage pool in containment. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. provided video support using a crawler with camera and a hand held inspection camera for the placement and welding of the flange.

December 6, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently supplied a Preventive Maintenance Monitoring System (PMMS) to Commonwealth Edison Byron Nuclear Station. The system consists of four high resolution color cameras with 12mm lenses. The cameras are monitored remotely with each camera dedicated to an individual monitor. The monitors are rack mounted in pairs and housed in two small cases. At present, the system is used to visually monitor HVAC fan room operations.

December 8, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. was contracted by Lockheed Martin Energy Systems at the Oakridge Lab Facilities to demonstrate a wet or dry crawler vehicle to perform certain specific tasks regarding remote retrieval of wastes in underground storage tanks. Breakthroughs for design and operation of these task specific remote operated vehicles have occurred and more information will be forthcoming.

December 6, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. assisted Commonwealth Edison Dresden Nuclear Station Unit 2 with video and remote operated vehicle support during the moisture separator modifications. This was done in conjunction with the Rx vessel shroud repair during the Dresden Unit 2 spring '95 refuel outage. Robotic equipment used included.
* R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. manufactured submarine
* Scarab I with 3 function manipulator
* Remotely operated vacuum crawler

The in vessel visual inspection was performed on Dresden Unit 2 with a full pictorial report of the inspection of the lower Rx head bottom drain. The pictorial reports were generated using the Dresden and Byron Stations' owned computer enhanced video imaging systems (CEVIS) developed by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc.

December 8, 1995

During the Dresden Unit 2 spring '95 outage, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. developed equipment for determining Rx lower bottom drain pipe wall thickness at inaccessible areas underneath the Rx vessel. The equipment included a remote operated pipe crawler, ultrasonic thickness measurement equipment and video monitor console.

December 8, 1995

Upon completion of the Northeast Nuclear Energy Company Millstone Unit 1 Fall '95 outage R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. technicians completed sludge and debris removal from U-1's moisture separator pit. The cleaning methodology was developed by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. project completed under budget and on time.

December 8, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies recently supplied an 8 camera surveillance system to the Commonwealth Edison Braidwood Nuclear Power Station. The system consists of 8 pan and tilt, color cameras with 10x zoom capability, a master console and two slave consoles. Each slave console supports four cameras and consists of a color monitor, quad splitter, and camera control unit. All components are rack mounted. The video image can be switched from a single camera or all four cameras may be viewed on the quad screen.

The master console can receive up to the maximum number of cameras in service. The master console also contains a hard copy processor that allows the operator to capture a live image from any camera.

December 8, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies recently supplied a 4 camera surveillance system to Commonwealth Edison Braidwood Nuclear Power Station. The system consists of four pan and tilt color cameras with 10x zoom capability and a master console. The consoles consist of rack mounted color monitors, quad splitters, required electronics and switching functions. System is being used for rad waste operations and surveillance.

December 8, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies recently supplied rebuild kits, new radiation tolerant cameras and spare parts to the Commonwealth Edison Byron Nuclear Power Station in preparation for the Byron Unit 1 spring '96 refuel outage. The parts will be used by the Commonwealth Edison Robotics Group for maintenance and refurbishment of COMED owned R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. equipment.

December 8, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. completed outage support work for the Commonwealth Edison Zion Unit 1 Nuclear Power Station during the fall of 1995. Tasks performed included.

1) Fuel bundle serial number verification during fuel offload and reload
2) Verified clearances for Rx disassembly of the Rx head and upper internals
3) ISI visual inspection of the hot and cold leg vessel nozzles
4) Rx head funnel inspection
5) Preventive maintenance on robotic equipment and utility owned camera systems
6) Rx vessel flange cleaning
7) Core alignment

Additionally, a dose rate survey was performed by remote robotics in preparation for diver entry into the RWS tank. The robotic equipment was supplied by the Commonwealth Edison Robotics Group under the management of Commonwealth Edison and supervised by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. key personnel.

December 8, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. was awarded a contract for its technical support during the March 1996 refuel outage at Wolf Creek Nuclear Station. R.O.V. Tech. activities will include lower internals lift camera equipment set-up, trouble shooting camera refurbishment, robotic Scarab II crawler rebuild, camera support fabrication, and after outage supervision of equipment rebuilds.

December 8, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. completed outage support work for the Commonwealth Edison Braidwood Unit 1 Nuclear Power Station during the fall of 1995. With Fuel Handlers Department support, typical tasks performed included.

Fuel bundle serial number verification during fuel off load and reload
Fuel inspection
Conducted a remote video examination of the transfer canal on SFP side, thus eliminated the need for diver.
Provided remote video support for underwater transfer cart wheel replacement by diver.
Core mapping and verification after reload
Preventive maintenance on robotic equipment and utility owned camera systems
Rx vessel flange cleaning of the "O" ring groove

The robotic equipment was supplied by the Commonwealth Edison Robotics Group under the management of Commonwealth Edison and supervised by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. key personnel.

December 8, 1995

In preparation for possible lower bottom drain line replacement during the Dresden Unit 2 spring '95 outage, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. developed a remotely operated weld head with supporting accessory equipment. The remotely operated weld head, pipe cutting, pipe end prep, and NDE accessory tools were designed and manufactured to fit underneath the Rx vessel between the CRD guide tubes and above the CRD structural support steel to allow for drain line reinstallation.

December 8, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently designed and manufactured the Scarab IIA. The wet or dry crawler is designed to support a optional Z-axis inspection tool or remotely operated automatic weld head. The Scarab IIA turret is capable of 360 degrees rotation and the Z-axis can extend to 105" in height. The Z-axis is also equipped with lights and an R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. 6X zoom rad hardened camera mounted on a pan and tilt platform.

The remotely operated crawling device is configured to drive under the RPV head while the RPV head is located on its stand (refueling floor) to provide video inspection of RPV head guide tube welds, funnel position, TC and RVLIS penetrations, and of the general RPV head interior area.

The rack mounted operator control console is equipped with high resolution monitor viewing, hard copy processing, SVHS video recording and user-friendly controls.

December 11, 1995

In response to utility demand for a compact video enhancement product, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. developed a Pentium based computer enhanced video imaging system (CEVIS) to design a system that maximizes document quality while minimizing the effort required to produce meaningful high resolution color presentations with quality graphics. The unit can be used as a recording and viewing device during inspections or can be used with previously recorded material.

The electronic components are housed in three Anvil cases. One case contains an industrial computer, a 17" color monitor, laser printer, related hardware/ software and storage space. The second case houses two color monitors, one for live input and the other for video capture. A scanner mounted on a slide rack completes the console. The third case mounts on top of the second case and contains the photographic color printer.

The CEVIS has been used for numerous utility functions to include core shroud inspections. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. experienced field computer engineering group is available to operate the CEVIS at site for special tasks.

December 11, 1995

The Multi Camera Surveillance System provides remote monitoring of work performed in high radiation exposure areas. Prior to work commencement the ALARA concept is also achieved with this system by allowing the work force and cognizant rad protection technicians to preview the job task site and work impediments that may exist.
The system is comprised of a master control console, two slave consoles, a junction box, eight camera units and interconnection cables.

The master control console operates and displays up to four cameras and controls and displays any of the cameras from the slave consoles. The master console includes a 14" color monitor, a system controller (to allow the operator to remotely control various camera functions), a color quad system to include a picture freeze function in the quad mode), alarm function and remote capability. Additionally, the character generator allows alpha numeric display; and a hard copy video processor provides sharp monochrome prints of single frames or fields of video. The console also includes a telemetric transmitter which sends video and audio signals over dedicated telephone lines, and a 16 position switcher that enables switching 4 to 16 inputs to a single monitor output. The control console is housed in a heavy duty Anvil case.
Each slave console contains a color monitor, a system controller, and a color quad system. Slave consoles are capable of displaying and controlling any of 1 to 4 cameras.

The color camera includes an internal pan and tilt, CCD color camera and 10x zoom lens capability. The multi camera system is capable of using optional radiation tolerant cameras that have no pan/tilt/zoom capabilities.

The junction box is a heavy duty "Knaack" box used for component and cable storage as well as the interface to ensure separation of cable in contaminated areas from those in clean areas.

The interconnecting cables supplied are 125 feet long from the control console to the "Knaack" box, 350 feet long from the junction box to the slave consoles, and 200 feet long from the slave consoles to the cameras. Cable lengths are adjustable to suit the client need.

December 11, 1995

The Portable Remote Video System (PRVS) is a portable, pole mounted inspection system designed for pipe, valve and electrical inspections in hard to reach overhead areas. The PRVS consists of a pole mounted black and white CCD camera with halogen lights. The aluminum or optional fiberglass poles extend from 8 to 30 feet. The video signal is received by a black and white 4" monitor and recorded on a modified 8mm video cassette recorder. Power for the system comes from a rechargeable battery pack that is carried in a comfortable harness vest worn by the operator. A 20' interconnection umbilical connects the camera and lights to the control panel. Cabling with disconnects is provided from the battery pack to the Zero case. If desired, the battery pack may be bypassed and the unit can be plugged into 120 VAC.
The monitor, controls and recorder are mounted in a small lightweight aluminum Zero case.

December 28, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. of Vernon, Vermont has been named a key supplier to Commonwealth Edison (COMED) for robotics, cameras and other vision enhancement systems for the Commonwealth Edison Robotics Group under the management of COMED and supervised by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. key personnel.

December 28, 1995

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. of Vernon, VT recently completed an area camera system for Commonwealth Edison LaSalle Nuclear Station. The system is comprised of a matrix switcher, programmable camera and monitor control unit, and high resolution 10x zoom pan and tilt color cameras. The matrix switcher, programmable camera and monitor control unit and 14" high resolution color monitor are rack mounted in weather proof shippable control consoles with required electronics and switch functions. The system is capable of supporting 64 cameras, recording devices, monitors and a PC for data entry. It initiates from manual input, sensed alarm, or internal clock.

1994

June 24, 1994

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a purchase order from Commonwealth Edison Company, LaSalle County Station for the rebuild of the R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. supplied radiation tolerant, remotely operated inspection and retrieval system catalogued as R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. System I, to include a manipulator, gripper and three onboard radiation tolerant cameras with a macro zoom.

June 24, 1994

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received a purchase order from Northeast Utilities Service Company, Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company to provide labor and materials to perform overhaul and upgrade of the utility owned ROV inspection system and remote camera equipment and to perform post maintenance operability check. Order also included an upgraded 125' neutrally buoyant radiation tolerant ROV umbilical.

June 24, 1994

In 1993 Point Beach Nuclear Facility, owned and operated by the Wisconsin Electric Power Company, took delivery of an R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. wet or dry, radiation tolerant crawling system.
R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently received a second order from Point Beach Nuclear Facility for a radiation tolerant, remotely operated inspection and retrieval system catalogued as R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. System IV and an additional 125' radiation tolerant neutrally buoyant cable for previously purchased crawling system.

June 24, 1994

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. was issued an order by Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, Kewaunee Nuclear Facility, for 1994 Outage Support Services utilizing previously purchased remote operated, radiation tolerant inspection/retrieval system, catalogued as R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. System II. This state of the art system is the most highly developed system that R.O.V. Technologies manufactures, excluding computerized video enhancement/ measurement capabilities which can be added to the system as a modular component.

June 24, 1994

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently received an order from Tennessee Valley Authority, Sequoyah Nuclear Facility, Unit 2 for outage support services for the upcoming U2C6 1994 refueling outage. Services will include the rebuild and utilization of previously purchased remote operated, radiation tolerant inspection/retrieval system, catalogued as R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. System I and a modified, radiation tolerant, underwater crawling and climbing device, catalogued as R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. "Scarab II".

June 24, 1994

ROV Technologies, Inc. recently received an order from Commonwealth Edison Company Dresden Nuclear Station for the supply of equipment, setup, training and support services for the core shroud inspection conducted during the 1994 Unit 3 refueling outage.
Equipment purchased included ROV Technologies, Inc. state of the art computer enhanced video printing system, office review console and field recording console. Task performance included a Dresden owned camera system, technical equipment training and support services from ROV Technologies, Inc. and General Electric Nuclear Services. The core shroud and in vessel visual inspection was successfully completed.
The camera tube and lens size used for the inspection was proposed by ROV Technologies, Inc. and resulted in extremely high video resolution. Captured images, using a video frame grabber board, and monitoring of the video presentation during the inspection allowed the inspectors to clearly determine the indications and the path of the indications found in the heat affected zone of the suspect H5 weld.
A presentation report of the as found reactor components and the H5 weld was prepared by ROV Technologies, Inc. for use by the Dresden Station. The report consisted of enhanced and original images taken from the SVHS recordings with appropriate labeling and graphics of the reactor components and of the specific weld configurations. Images were printed using a photographic quality printer and were arrayed in a 1, 2, 4, or 6 picture format. The graphics and text were overlaid on the specific prints.

June 24, 1994

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., has recently received two contracts from Consolidated Edison Company IP-2 Station.
One contract (completed) for warranty and maintenance work on remote operated equipment, (originally supplied by a previous vendor), and completely upgraded and modified by R.O.V. Technologies Inc. under a previously issued contract. Upgrades included addition of a new umbilical, control console, high resolution rad tolerant underwater cameras ,high resolution recording and hard copy processing equipment with audio input and alpha numeric character generation capabilities and a three function miniature underwater manipulator.
The second contract for repair of constant focus cameras and set-up of ROV equipment in Unit 1 spent fuel pool. After inspection, complete break down and proper storage of ROV equipment.

June 24, 1994

Catawba Nuclear Facility, owned and operated by the Duke Power Company recently took delivery of an underwater, remotely operated, inspection and retrieval system catalogued as R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. System IV.
The order included additional equipment for use with the above system, to include: manipulator wrist, manipulator gripper, manipulator control circuitry, half speed circuitry, digital depth readout and display, electronic boost, high resolution monitor, 125 foot neutrally buoyant 42 conductor cable and rebuild kit. On-site training for equipment operation was also provided.

June 24, 1994

In February of 1994 R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. performed emergency services for Commonwealth Edison Company Dresden Nuclear Facility.
Emergency services included exploration and assessment of a possible dangerous atmosphere in the shut down Unit 1 transfer canal. The assessment was performed utilizing various remote operated equipment previously purchased by Commonwealth Edison. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. technicians operated the equipment.

June 24, 1994

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. was issued an order by Commonwealth Edison Company, Braidwood Nuclear Facility, to supply support services using equipment from Byron Station Mobile Robotics Group for the spring of 1994 outage.

December 19, 1994

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently received an order from the Commonwealth Edison Company, Zion Nuclear Station, for the supply of a Multi Camera Surveillance System
The system, complete with color camera, pan and tilt, and 10x zoom lens is operated through a single coax cable.
Included in the order will be one Control Console to be used in conjunction with the multi camera surveillance system, that will consist of a color monitor, camera control unit, a hard copy processor, quad splitter, and a light wave transmitter/receiver.
Also included, is a supply of three control consoles, to be used with the multi camera surveillance system. They will include, color monitors, camera control units, and a quad splitter.

December 13, 1994

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently supplied an order for Union Electric Company, Callaway Nuclear Facility, which included an underwater radiation tolerant multi camera system with pan and tilt, and zoom lensing capabilities.
The multi use system was used for reactor fuel bundle inspections as the fuel was removed from the vessel, as well as core barrel removal and FOSAR activities. The highlight of the system usage occurred when an R.O.V Technologies, Inc. wet or dry climbing/crawling device (Scarab II) utilized with the multi camera system contributed to a zero entry core barrel evolution. The ALARA concept was maximized by utility strategic planning well before the outage occurred. The total core barrel evolution was rated at <10 mR.

1993

March 27, 1993

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has been awarded separate renewable one-year contracts from three utilities. The company will conduct on-site repair work, maintenance, and operation of frequently used remotely operated vehicle (ROV) equipment in primary and secondary systems during upcoming outages at Commonwealth Edison Co. Byron Facility, CP&L Brunswick Facility and Consolidated Edison Indian Point II.
In addition, R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., has been contracted to modify, upgrade and operate utility owned remote operated equipment.

* Modifications will include RAD hardening of systems supplied b.
manufacturer from fields other than the Nuclear arena.

* Upgrades will include new umbilicals, control consoles, hig.
resolution camera equipment, and various additional equipment such a.
camera positioning equipment and miniature electric manipulator systems.

March 27, 1993

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently completed remote visual I.V.V.I. inspections, under a renewable yearly service contract, on reactor vessel internals and RX Vessel upper internals package at the Wisconsin Public Service Corp. Kewaunee Nuclear Facility.

The inspections included specific required inspections and general scanning for deleterious materials. Hard copy in SVHS format was provided after completion of the inspections.

March 27, 1993

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., recently completed a project at the Commonwealth Edison Co. Dresden Station. The project included underwater surveillance of sludge lancing various RX Vessel Nozzles in the RX Vessel. The lancing effort will significantly lower the dose rate of required nozzle weld inspections from the drywell side.

The inspections were performed utilizing previously purchased R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., Remote Operated equipment from the Commonwealth Edison Co. LaSalle Station.

A yearly renewable service and warranty contract is currently under negotiation at the LaSalle Site.

March 27, 1993

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., under a multi-year renewable service contract, is currently supporting the Commonwealth Edison Co. Byron Station refueling outage.

Underwater crawling, flying and stationary video systems are providing high resolution CCTV video and recording information for the stations Management, Refueling Group, and Westinghouse Service Crews.

An over the wire computerized video transmission link was provided to allow digitized CCTV signals to be sent from the Byron Station to Westinghouse Engineering support personnel in Monroeville Pennsylvania. Various additional backup equipment was also provided.

May 18, 1993

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. Underwater remote operated equipment and operations personnel recently performed successfully at the TVA Sequoyah Nuclear Facility. RX vessel component disassembly, verification of clearance tolerances, movement of components, including the core barrel, to equipment stands (to and from) were verified by the radiation tolerant equipment. Additionally, in vessel inspections were performed on RX vessel nozzles, core supports, thimble guides, RX vessel flange and general area cleanliness. Retrievals of deleterious materials were performed in the RX vessel lower head and general cavity area utilizing a sensitive miniature electric manipulator manufactured by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. attached to a standard remote operated vehicle catalogued as R.O.V. Technologies Inc., System #1 purchased earlier and upgraded this year. High resolution video recording and hard copy processed pictures with audio and alpha numeric generation were provided at project completion. The state of the art equipment also performed successfully when called upon to replace faulty inspection equipment previously scheduled for certain required in vessel inspections.

May 18, 1993

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., was recently called upon to perform immediate inspections of general torus conditions and specific inspections of S/R pump suction strainers located in the torus at the Commonwealth Edison Quad-Cities Nuclear Station Unit #2. The operation was carried out successfully with mobilization notice of one day. The equipment used was remote operated underwater equipment previously purchased by the Commonwealth Edison Company Byron Station from R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. Additional support was provided by Commonwealth Edison Byron Station fuel handling group supervision.

May 20, 1993

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., has recently been awarded a contract by the Commonwealth Edison Company Byron Facility to supply a "Z" axis to a previously supplied R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. wet or dry crawling system. The "Z" axis has allowed the addition of radiation monitoring equipment to the crawler which can be raised or lowered within an approximate 5' envelope for dose surveys. The equipment successfully performed its task during a full power entry into the containment. Entries into containment during various power levels for general dose survey have provided a base line for knowledge of total dose that will be taken during required repairs at a utility decided power level vs. total shutdown. The required work can be determined by plant personnel viewing remote monitors with video signals provided by the crawling device. It was estimated that the general area dose survey conducted during full power entry with the crawler saved 50R cumulative gamma dose.

May 20, 1993

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., has recently been awarded a contract by the Commonwealth Edison Company Byron Facility to supply two completely portable pole mounted video systems. These systems are battery powered and include high resolution rad tolerant camera and lights mounted on an extendible section pole. The required monitor, video recording equipment and batteries are contained in a comfortable padded vest package. The equipment performed successfully for a variety of tasks previous to and during the Byron Station past outage.

A.L.A.R.A. and safety were maximized with the utilization of the recently supplied equipment for such operations as pressure vessel inspections and containment leak detection during plant operation.

May 20, 1993

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., has recently been contracted to perform rebuild and maintenance functions to previously supplied R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. equipment at the Gulf States Utilities Riverbend Station. After refurbishing the equipment performance of suppression pool inspections including S/R pump suction strainers was successfully completed.

May 20, 1993

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., has recently completed a contract with Consolidated Edison Company IP-2 Station for outage support with remote operated equipment, supplied by a previous vendor, field operators and maintenance technicians. The remote operated equipment used for various RX vessel, RX cavity and spent fuel storage pool inspections and retrievals was completely upgraded and modified by R.O.V. Technologies Inc. under a previously issued contract. Upgrades included addition of a new umbilical, control console and high resolution rad tolerant underwater cameras including state of the art high resolution recording and hard copy processing equipment with audio input and alpha numeric character generation capabilities. A three function miniature underwater manipulator was also supplied and installed.
Work items performed include: upper internals package viewed during lifting rig attachment, package removal, verification of proper clearance (height) above interfering RX vessel parts before movement to its stand, verification of no fuel bundles attached, verification of clearances while moving to its stand, and proper engagement into its stand. Verification of reinstallation of the internals approximately reverses the above pattern.

May 24, 1993

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., has successfully completed a project for the CP&L Brunswick Nuclear Facility. The project involved inspections and location of each weld and attachment in the spent fuel pool. As-builts of the fuel rack supporting trusses including video tape and photographs were also generated and turned over at project completion. Phase #2 of the project is currently under negotiations and will include sophisticated small leak detection methodology.

The project was performed in conjunction with Brand Nuclear Services, and utilized underwater crawling and "free flying" remote operated equipment capable of providing high resolution video signals. The radiation tolerant equipment supplied earlier by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., included high resolution video handling equipment with microprocessor, audio input and alpha numeric generation capabilities the crawling device included 3 rad tolerant video cameras and lights and a turret camera with pan, tilt and 6x zoom capabilities. The crawling device was required to continuously negotiate obstacles 4" to 8" in height during the underwater inspections. Underwater vacuuming and water jet movement of particulate matter was also accomplished.

May 24, 1993

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., has recently supplied a variety of camera systems to the Commonwealth Edison Byron Nuclear Station. The systems include color, black and white and rad tolerant cameras, including audio function. A variety of sensing for the cameras was also supplied. Switching and computerized video handling equipment was also part of the order.

August 9, 1993

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently received an order from Tennessee Valley Authority, Sequoyah Nuclear Facility for a modified, radiation tolerant, underwater crawling and climbing device, catalogued as R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. "Scarab II". The crawler will be used in conjunction with R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. Radiation Tolerant R.O.V. catalogued as System I, previously purchased by TVA, and upgraded during the recent Sequoyah outage.

August 3, 1993

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently supplied a radiation tolerant, remotely operated inspection and retrieval system to the Commonwealth Edison Company, Zion Nuclear Facility. This system is catalogued as R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. System I.

The system includes.
1) vehicle operators control consol.
2) underwater, radiation tolerant inspection and retrieval vehicl.
3) spares ki.
4) neutrally buoyant umbilical.
Additionally, the system includes a tilting yoke unit with 6X zoom focus, high resolution, radiation tolerant camera and a manipulator gripper attachment.

August 9, 1993

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. recently received purchase orders from Wisconsin Public Service Corporation Kewaunee Nuclear Facility for spare parts, service and field operation of the recently supplied radiation tolerant, remotely operated inspection and retrieval system catalogued as R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. System II. R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has supplied the maintenance, rebuild services, equipment operation for inspections in the RX cavity for component parts, and the RX vessel for required inspections.

1992

February 1, 1992

R.O.V. Technologies, Incorporated has been issued a service contract and has recently supplied technicians to operate R.O.V. Technologies equipment at the TVA Nuclear sites. The ROV equipment has three onboard cameras and lights and includes a miniature electric manipulator. The equipment successfully performed monitoring of RX Vessel Components disassembly and reassembly procedures, including dropped object location and retrieval.

February 1, 1992

R.O.V. Technologies, Incorporated has recently been issued a purchase order by Consolidated Edison Indian Point 2 station to supply site technicians and technical engineering support to perform maintenance upgrades and modifications to the stations ROV system. The project will begin with required maintenance for a near future spent fuel storage pool inspection and follow with suggested upgrades such as 1) tether changeout to a state of the art 38 conductor with 3 coax, neutrally buoyant in fresh water, umbilical; 2) addition of a miniature, modular, electric, 3 function manipulator, including a high resolution, radiation tolerant vision system.

Additionally operation/maintenance manual upgrading and site training for utility personnel is being discussed.

February 1, 1992

R.O.V. Technologies, Incorporated equipment recently supplied to the Gulf States Riverbend Station has performed a successful suppression pool inspection. The inspection was performed by the Riverbend facility Health Physics Group. Water clarity was extremely poor during the general inspections and required verifications. The high resolution radiation tolerant, low LUX, CCTV tube type monochrome cameras performed successfully with the color temperature tailored, intensity variable lighting instruments on the system. The miniature remote controlled vehicle carried three cameras and four lights on two independent tilting devices. The rack mounted modular control station made equipment transportation to and from the suppression pool a straight-forward task. Future plans include addition of a miniature electric manipulator for retrieval efforts. The manipulator has three functions: Wrist, elbow and end effecter (gripper).

April 25, 1992

R.O.V. Technologies, Incorporated equipment and operators recently performed successfully at the Commonwealth Edison LaSalle County Nuclear Station, providing visual inspection for a variety of tasks. The vehicle use gained the station approximately ten hours of critical path time. The inspection results recorded on a state of the art rack mounted video control station were termed the best ever at the LaSalle sight. The video control console, part of R.O.V. Technologies inspection/retrieval systems 1 and 2, highlights SVHS commercial grade recording devices, video hard copy processor circuitry with alpha numeric generation, floating ground circuitry for the actual vehicle, and a control panel for console overall operation. Audio input, and multi signal output high resolution monitors are also included. Future plans for the equipment during this years outage include monitoring movements of all components in the RX vessel and RX vessel cavity. An underwater "Dositec" probe has been attached to the neutrally buoyant vehicle for numerous dose reading tasks during the scheduled outage project performance. R.O.V. Technologies is working with Brand underwater services in this effort.

April 4, 1992

R.O.V. Technologies, Incorporated has recently completed a contract with Wisconsin Public Power Company, Kewaunee Nuclear Facility. The contract included a two week training program for plant personnel and subsequent operation of a recently purchased R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. underwater inspection/retrieval system. Reactor vessel internal inspections were performed to ASME Section IX requirements. The neutrally buoyant remotely operated vehicle with umbilical, video management control console and radiation tolerant, high resolution cameras and lights were used to perform visual inspections on the upper support plate and upper core plate, core barrel head and vessel alignment pins, core barrel flange flow nozzles, upper core plate guide keys in core barrel and flange to core barrel weld.

April 9, 1992

R.O.V. Technologies, Incorporated has recently participated in the Commonwealth Edison Company Byron B2RO3 Outage. The Commonwealth Edison Byron Facility contract included field technician and corporate technical and equipment supply.

Site work included: video and control console assemblies; pre-outage decontamination and refurbishing of R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. supplied cameras, remote operated inspection/retrieval vehicle and remote operated wet or dry crawling device. Some specific tasks included: staging of all equipment; set up underwater area cameras; set up fuel transfer serial number verification system; set crawler in RX vessel cavity in preparation for monitoring RX vessel head lift, monitored head lift; set up both crawler and sub for upper internal lift; provide remote video signal from refuel deck for outside viewing of remote equipment; performed video support of the lift providing view from three angles of the upper core plate, which included driving the ROV below the upper internals to verify that no fuel assembly was stuck; followed the internals toward the storage stand to verify that the internals height was sufficient to clear; performed the inspection of the upper internals upper core plate alignment pins; performed upender inspections; trouble shot and eliminated general RF noise in video system; inspected cavity for debris; inspected cavity liner weld seams; performed RX vessel head internal inspection utilizing the wet/dry crawling system.

April 25, 1992

R.O.V. Technologies, Incorporated equipment and operators recently performed successfully at the TVA Sequoyah Unit #2 Nuclear Station, working under a recent multi year service agreement. The miniature, radiation tolerant, remote operated, underwater, inspection and retrieval equipment was used for tasks which included.

1. Required Section VI RX Vessel visual inspections.
2. Visual inspections of the upper internals lifting fixture mounting holes.
3. Verified acceptable lifting height of upper internals from its stand.
4. Follow upper internals to RX Vessel assuring that no obstacles were encountered.
5. Verified that core BBL was in correct alignment for insertion into the RX Vessel.
6. Located and removed deleterious materials 8' into a main steam nozzle.
7. Retrieved deleterious materials from general cavity area.

The outage related work also included complete equipment overhaul. It was also noted that considerable critical path time was saved using the state of the art equipment. Additional equipment sales are currently being negotiated.

June 30, 1992

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently supplied a radiation tolerant underwater pole mounted video system and control console to EG & G Energy Measurements at their Las Vegas, Nevada Site.

R.O.V. Technologies manufactures a pole assembly for use with or without our standard video/retrieval equipment. Poles are available in standard 10' sections or in lengths are required. The unique attachment design allows for safe, easy assembly/disassembly. The hard black anodized aluminum tubes are rated for neutron streaming and are slightly positive in water. Shielding characteristics are made possible via "open to water" fast draining ends designed into the system. The system can include any of the following.

A. Pole Assembl.

1. Aluminum tubes - 1 1/2' diameter SCH 40 hard black anodized aluminum, slightly positive in water.
2. "Open to water" fast draining ends.
3. Standard sections - 10' or in lengths as required.
4. Mounting hardware, as required.
5. Optional heavy duty storage container.

B. Pole Assembly - Camera/Ligh.

1. Camera - modified, housed, underwater, monochrome, Nuvicon tube type. 600 horizontal lines minimum. Constant focus with semi-wide angle lens and wide angle lens. Modified iris.
2. Light - up to 500 watt, underwater, semi-flood with two additional reflectors (flood and spot).
3. Brackets to mount camera/light assembly to pole assembly.

NOTE: All control electronics to be located outside of water.

C. Pole Assembly - Consol.

1. Commercial grade, 9', hi-resolution, minimum 700 line, monochrome monitor.
2. SVHS commercial grade recorder or 3/4' Beta with jog/shuttle frame freeze capability and microprocessor capability.
3. 125' umbilical with water-tight connections on one end and MS connections on opposite end.
4. Commercial grade video copy processor.
5. Amplified video splitter, 1 input, 4 output.

D. Pole Assembly - Manipulator Syste.

1. Single function electric gripper capable of fitting through a three inch diameter hole.
2. Optional wrist and elbow.

July 8, 1992

R.O.V. Technologies, Incorporated has been awarded a three year purchase order for extended warranty and maintenance work for recently supplied R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. inspection and retrieval system, cataloged as ROV II for the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, Kewaunee Nuclear Facility. This order follows a successful training program for Kewaunee site personnel and successful operation of the miniature remote operated, underwater inspection/retrieval system during their 1992 outage. Reactor vessel internal inspections were performed to ASME Section XI requirements. The neutrally buoyant remotely operated vehicle with a neutrally buoyant umbilical, video management control console and radiation tolerant, high resolution cameras and lights were used to perform visual inspections on the upper support plate and upper core plate, core barrel, RX head and vessel alignment pins, core barrel flange flow nozzles, upper core plate guide keys in core barrel and flange to core barrel weld.

July 24, 1992

R.O.V. Technologies, has recently been awarded a contract for further development of underwater robotics for nuclear plant inspection and retrieval tasks from Consolidated Edison Company, Indian Point 2 Nuclear Facility. The project involves additional equipment and modifications to the utility owned SROV. Site personnel training and outage assistance will also be provided by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. Further technological development will include: remote manipulation and underwater neutrally buoyant cabling; miniature high resolution radiation tolerant U/W video camera system; SVHS recording and hard copy processing of video signals; 6X zoom lens with macro capability; and the integration of the existing SROV control consoles and cameras with a new overall control console and singular multi-conductor umbilical.

October 16, 1992

Point Beach Nuclear Facility, owned and operated by the Wisconsin Electric Power Company, recently took delivery of an R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. wet or dry, radiation tolerant crawling system. The system usage will include Reactor Vessel Head internal inspection. A duplicate system was recently used to successfully perform a Reactor Vessel Head internal inspection at the Commonwealth Edison Company, Byron Nuclear Facility.

October 16, 1992

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. remote operated equipment has recently performed successfully at the GPU Nuclear Corporation, Three Mile Island I Nuclear Facility. The system, catalogued as R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. System I, includes a three function miniature electric manipulator.

The tri-camera/light vehicle has high resolution (>600 horizontal TV lines), radiation tolerant, underwater, miniature, CCTV cameras with full pan and tilt capabilities including a 6X zoom camera with macro capabilities.

The equipment was used during diving activities to repair the fuel bundle upender. The ROV allowed overall viewing of the project, monitored and documented the work area radiation fields, via an attached Dositec underwater probe and retrieved hot materials found during the radiation field mapping before diver entry. The equipment also served as a verification of adherence to health physics requirements during actual task performance.

October 16, 1992

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently received an order from Brand Utility Services to supply a modified R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. radiation tolerant underwater crawling device system, and manpower to operate the equipment at the Carolina Power and Light Company, Brunswick Nuclear Facility. The remote operated system will be used to deliver radiation tolerant video equipment and vacuuming devices around and through the truss assemblies underneath the fuel storage racks in the spent fuel storage pool. The system includes measurement capabilities via microprocessors, SVHS recording equipment, alpha numeric and audio input and hard copy processing equipment. Additionally, a R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. radiation tolerant underwater, remote operated ROV (catalogued as R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. System IV) will be supplied as part of the overall contract.

1991

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., a Vernon Vermont based "hi-tech" equipment and service vendor to the Nuclear and Space Industry, recently completed an underwater equipment training program at Commonwealth Edison, Byron Nuclear Facility. The training program for the fuel handling group was part of a contract issued on an emergency basis for equipment and manpower to facilitate completion of critical path work during the Byron #2 Nuclear Facility 1990 refueling outage. R.O.V. Technologies underwater inspection and retrieval equipment was needed to replace three submarine type underwater vehicles which had failed during the reactor component inspection. A two year service and equipment maintenance contract is currently being negotiated for equipment operation support.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc., a Vernon Vermont based "hi-tech" service and equipment vendor, was recently awarded a contract to supply radiation tolerant underwater video system equipment to upgrade existing R.O.V. equipment at the PECO, Peach Bottom Nuclear Facility. The miniature high resolution equipment functioned successfully during the Peach Bottom 1991 unit #2 scheduled refueling outage. Negotiations are currently under way for similar equipment upgrades at the PECO, Limerick Nuclear Facility.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has modified one of its three standard highly specialized nuclear underwater inspection/retrieval systems, making certain high tech equipment from the package, optional equipment. The result is a low priced, rugged, dependable, radiation tolerant inspection vehicle system. All R.O.V. Tech. optional equipment, including miniature electric manipulators and computerized video enhancement/measurement/copying systems, can be added to this base unit as modular components. The system is targeted for the nuclear user who may opt to purchase low priced underwater equipment not manufactured for use in nuclear environments because of budgetary restraints. This field proven base unit can be purchased for under $30,000.00. Features include: R.O.V. Tech. standard neutrally buoyant, underwater base vehicle, a high resolution, constant focus, radiation tolerant camera (>600 horizontal T.V. lines), 125' neutrally buoyant tether, syntactic foam and stainless steel welded tube structure, electric camera pan and tilt unit, heavy duty electric thrusters and a state of the art rack mountable vehicle control console.

On site service technicians/operators, utility operator training and extended warranty services are available. A four to six week delivery schedule is possible.

May 1, 1991

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has been awarded a contract by Commonwealth Edison Company for the Byron Nuclear Facility to supply a miniature, remote operated, electric, crawler device. The first planned usage for the remote operated crawler will be for internal visual inspection of the reactor vessel head after removal from the reactor vessel.

The main crawler components including motors, control console, lights, radiation tolerant high resolution cameras, pan and tilt device and modular miniature electric manipulator are interchangeable with components of the R.O.V. Tech. remote underwater inspection/retrieval system purchased by Commonwealth Edison for the Byron Nuclear Facility in late 1990.

May 29, 1991

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently been issued an order by Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, Kewaunee Nuclear Facility, for a remote operated inspection/retrieval system. This state of the art system is the most highly developed system that R.O.V. Technologies manufactures, excluding computerized video enhancement/measurement capabilities which can be added to the system as a modular component. The system is cataloged as R.O.V Technologies System II.

May 13, 1991

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently completed a CST Tank Inspection at Commonwealth Edison Company, LaSalle Nuclear Facility. Required tasks included: nozzle inspections, tank wall visuals, particulate identification, radiological survey and deleterious material evaluation. Actual project time duration was three days.

June 10, 1991

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently been issued an order by GPU Nuclear Corporation, Three Mile Island Nuclear Facility, for an underwater remote operated inspection/retrieval system, cataloged as R.O.V.Technologies System #IV. This state of the art system, manufactured specifically for the nuclear industry, includes.

A. Vehicle Control Operators Consoles
1. Vehicle power on/off
2. Vehicle thruster on/off
3. Horizontal thrust joy stick, proportional speed and turn degree, all degrees, forward and reverse
4. Vertical thrust control dial
5. Individually fused circuitry
6. Ground fault verification and test circuitry
7. 20 foot heavy duty 3 conductor power supply cable to control console including MS connector mount to control console

NOTE: This vehicle control console is a rugged module with integrated fused circuitry mounted in a rose enclosure. Do not confuse with light duty airplane type hand held controllers

B. Underwater Vehicles
1. Two horizontal thrusters, housed, double sealed, underwater pluggable
2. One vertical thruster, housed, double sealed, underwater pluggable
3. One camera and light tilt mechanism
4. One - two hundred (200) watt semi spot underwater light
5. One modified housed underwater camera, underwater pluggable
a. Constant focus with semi wide angle lens
b. Auto iris
c. >600 horizontal line resolution. Camera has operated in ionizing radiation fields >60,000 R/HR as well as hundreds of hours in radiation fields >30,000 R with no appreciable picture quality degradation
6. Stainless steel tubing (.049) wall 5/8" OD crash frame including propeller guards and counterweight mounts. (All welded pressure vessel)
7. Imron coated solid syntactic foam flotation block and side panel, manufactured for ease of decontamination

C. One 125',17 Conductor With One Coax Cable, Neutrally Buoyant Umbilical
1. Underwater pluggable connectors for all functions at vehicle end
2. 17 pin MS connector at control console end
3. Solid color for optimum visibility
D. Complete Operators And Maintenance Manual With Detailed Drawings Of All Components And Electrical Drawings

NOTE:
R.O.V. Technologies equipment has no on-board electronic circuitry. All electronics are out-of-water, as high radiation fields affect electronic circuitry.

NEWS RELEASE

R.O.V Technologies, Inc. was awarded a service contract by Commonwealth Edison Company LaSalle County Nuclear Facility to perform video and laser optical measurement of the unit 2 spent fuel storage pool in preparation for the upcoming rerack project. The contract included both wall angularity and overall interference measurements of the existing components to develop "as built condition" drawings. In addition to the underwater laser/camera system, an R.O.V. Technologies remote operated underwater vehicle was also used. The ROV was supplied to the Byron Station in late 1990.

NEWS RELEASE

A multiple year service/maintenance contract was recently awarded to R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. for the Commonwealth Edison Byron Nuclear Facility. The contract award allows inclusion of R.O.V. Technologies extended warranty option for underwater remote operated inspection/retrieval systems. Highlights of the warranty include frozen labor rates from 1990 for the duration of the multi-year contract as well as full equipment warranty including underwater radiation tolerant high resolution video cameras (>700 horizontal TV lines).

NEWS RELEASE

R.O.V. Technologies, Incorporated has successfully completed a service contract issued by the Commonwealth Edison LaSalle County Nuclear Facility. The contract included design, manufacture and operation of an underwater laser based measurement and control system for as-built verifications at the unit #2 spent fuel storage pool. The project was completed in preparation for the upcoming "re-rack" project. The contract required SVHS video tapes and hard copy photographs with alpha numeric character generation, of the linear, angular and overall interference measurements. The high resolution SVHS tapes have become part of the stations new computerized Map system.

An underwater remote operated vehicle with high resolution (>700 horizontal TV lines), radiation tolerant cameras and control station was also used in the project. The ROV was supplied by R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. in late 1990 to the fuel handling group at the Byron Nuclear Facility.

News Release

Nuclear Services
R.O.V. Technologies, Incorporated has recently announced a new service for the industry. The service provides skilled electronic/mechanical nuclear professional personnel for repair of robotic/video systems currently owned by utility groups. Modification/radiation hardening of existing systems is also available.

R.O.V. Technologies, Incorporated personnel can manage utility multiple robotic/video systems including listing equipment, repair assessment, providing spare parts and furnishing technicians.

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. offers consultation services to review all utility initiating documents for robotic device/state of the art tooling usage.

In addition we will project ALARA/safety/cost justifications for the equipment.
The consultation services encompass the company's experienced knowledge of state of the art robotic/remote vision systems available today. This service also compliments R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. remote robotic/vision equipment sales and services currently offered to the nuclear and space industries.

November 19, 1991

R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. has recently received an order from the Gulf States Utilities Company, Riverbend Nuclear Facility for the sale of an underwater remote operated inspection/retrieval system cataloged as R.O.V. Technologies System IV. Additionally, a motorized dual camera/light yoke and a U.S. spares kit will be supplied. The dual camera/light yoke includes a modular control console, that has electronics installed for future additions of optional modular components. Operator Training for the utility is under current negotiations.

R.O.V. Technologies Inc.

Excellence Through Innovation

Remotely Operated Radiation Tolerant Underwater Camera and Inspection Systems for the Nuclear Power Industry

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For further information contact: Mr. John J. Judge Mr. Michael L. Trombley Mr. Brian F. Quinlan At telephone number 802-254-9353 or E-mail to mail@rovtech.com

January 19, 2005

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For further information contact:
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Mr. Michael L. Trombley
Mr. Brian F. Quinlan
At telephone number 802-254-9353 or E-mail to mail@rovtech.com