First, let's explain the auto modes. This discussion refers to auto depth, but applies to auto heading as well.
Auto modes work sort of like cruise control in a car, but not entirely. With cruise control, you establish the speed you want and then turn on cruise control. The system keeps the car running at the same speed. You can push on the accelerator to speed up, but when you release the accelerator, the car resumes the original cruise control speed.
With auto depth, you have several options to engage it:
- You can establish the depth you want and then turn on auto depth. This will hold the ROV at that depth. You can then apply vertical thruster input and the ROV will move in the corresponding direction. Auto depth is still active, but is in manual override. You do not need to turn auto depth off. When you re-center the depth knob, auto depth will re-engage and the ROV will hold the new depth (it doesn't revert back to the old depth like cruise control reverts back to the original speed). This is the standard mode.
- You can use the mouse to drag the auto depth indicator to a depth and the ROV will apply thrust as necessary to achieve and maintain that depth. You can use the drag method to start auto depth, or while auto depth is active. This is the "Go to" mode, and only applies to the Pro 4.
If auto depth does not appear to be working, there are two possible issues to check.
- For auto depth to be engaged and not revert to manual override, the depth control knob must be centered (no thrust applied). When no thrust is applied, the thrust indicator on the depth gauge will be transparent. When thrust is applied, the thrust indicator will turn green. If auto depth is on, and the thrust indicator is green, auto depth will be in manual override mode and not actively control the depth of the ROV. Re-center the depth contol knob to allow auto depth to engage and actively control the depth of the ROV.
- The ROV should be ballasted close to neutral. If the ROV is extremely heavy or light in water, auto depth performance will be decreased and the ROV will tend to overshoot and bounce around the intended depth. This will also increase the wear on the vertical motor, which could lead to premature failure of the cartridge seal or motor.