Dive and Discover : Oceanographic Tools: Jason

Jason II/Medea
Jason/Medea is a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system designed by the Institution’s Deep Submergence Laboratory for scientific investigation of the deep ocean and seafloor. It is a dual vehicle system, with Medea serving in a tether management role that decouples Jason from surface motion.

Engineers in the Deep Submergence Laboratory at WHOI designed the remotely operated vehicle Jason II and its sidekick Medea for scientific study of the deep ocean and seafloor. Medea acts like a weight between the ship and the vehicle, absorbing movement from above and allowing Jason II to roam without being affected by the motion of the surface ship.

Both Medea and Jason II are designed to operate to a maximum depth of 21,385 feet (6,500 meters). They are transportable, and can be operated from a variety of vessels.

Jason II is connected to Medea by a tether that is 0.84 inches in diameter and approximately 114 feet (35 meters) in length. The tether has a breaking strength of 41,000 pounds. In water, Medea weighs 800 pounds.

Jason II is propelled by six thrusters that provide about 600 pounds of thrust in the vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions. Jason II is designed for detailed survey and sampling tasks that require a high degree of maneuverability. It weighs about 8,000 pounds on land.

Both Medea and Jason II have been designed with high quality cameras and lighting. Medea is configured with a color camera and a black and white camera for terrain identification and visual location of Jason II.