Mini Rover ROV

Lore & Background

The Mini Rover ROV was designed and built by Chris Nicholson of Deep Sea Systems International, Inc. (DSSI). Nicholson built the first unit in his garage in Falmouth, MA. It was 26 inches long, weighed 55 pounds, and could be carried on airplanes as luggage. The vehicle is self-propelled, tethered, and free swimming. Benthos, Inc. (Teledyne Benthos) acquired exclusive designs, trademarks, marketing and manufacturing rights from DSSI in 1987, having manufactured and serviced the Mini Rover ROV for DSSI since 1984.

The Mini Rover ROV participated in notable undersea expeditions, including the 1989 3D filming of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald and the 1989 and 1990 Pearl Harbor Project with the National Park Service and National Geographic to survey the USS Arizona Memorial. In the 1989 James Cameron film The Abyss, the Mini Rover MKII ROV is credited as 'Little Geek'. Its size and portability made it easily deployable for emergency situations worldwide; on November 2, 1999, a Mini Rover ROV was on board the USNS Mohawk at the scene of the October 31, 1999 EgyptAir Flight 990 crash site to identify target locations.

Reader's Guide

The Mini Rover ROV's significance lies in its role as the first small, low cost remotely operated underwater vehicle, dramatically lowering the entry price for ROV technology from $100,000 to $26,850. This price reduction opened underwater exploration to a much wider range of users, including researchers, filmmakers, and emergency responders. Its portability—able to be carried as airline luggage—enabled rapid deployment to remote or crisis locations, as demonstrated at the EgyptAir Flight 990 crash site. The vehicle's involvement in high-profile projects, such as the 3D filming of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald and the Pearl Harbor Project with the National Park Service and National Geographic, showcased its capabilities in both scientific and cultural heritage contexts. Its appearance in James Cameron's The Abyss as 'Little Geek' brought the technology to popular attention. The acquisition of its designs and rights by Benthos in 1987 ensured continued manufacturing and support, cementing its legacy as a foundational platform that made ROV technology accessible and practical for diverse applications.

Did You Know?

• The Mini Rover ROV was built in Chris Nicholson's garage in Falmouth, MA.
• The Mini Rover MKII ROV is credited as 'Little Geek' in the 1989 film The Abyss.