Hydraulic systems on remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) allow the ROV pilots to operate the ROV’s manipulator arms, sampling boxes, LED swingarms, and other equipment. If these systems fail, the pilots lose the ability to manipulate objects, collect samples, and adjust the light. During the 2026 ROV Shakedown, a problem arose with the hydraulic valve pack on ROV Deep Discoverer. Here, the ROV engineers are troubleshooting the power and communications inside the main telemetry housing to restore hydraulic control and enable ROV operations.

From: Exploration Season Begins: Inside the ROV Shakedown