1X® DeepVortex™ XLR Undersea Inspection ROV
Deepwater Inspection Platform for Submarine & Undersea Cables
The 1X® DeepVortex™ XLR is an elite, high-performance tethered remotely operated vehicle (ROV) engineered specifically for extended subsea infrastructure inspections at depths up to 1,000 meters. Purpose-built for demanding undersea cable and submarine cable inspections, the DeepVortex XLR fully incorporates the 1X® Nervous System™—our proprietary, pressure-tolerant cabling, robust harnesses, subsea connectors, and high-flex energy chains. Together, these internal subsea elements deliver superior signal integrity, unmatched pressure tolerance, and exceptional corrosion resistance in the most challenging marine environments.
Unlike generic underwater drone hardware, the 1X® core architecture is engineered under strict robotics-grade design parameters. This ensures reliable power delivery and low-latency telemetry near live high-voltage subsea cables, deepwater pipeline corridors, and complex offshore assets.
Key Advantages of the XLR Platform
1,000 m Depth Capability
Rated for continuous operations down to 1,000 m (3,280 ft) with extended high-bandwidth fiber optic tether options (3+ km capability) for full-corridor subsea asset and submarine cable inspections.
High-Current Performance
Armed with 7 or more high-torque vectored thrusters delivering strong forward propulsion, lateral control, and precision station-keeping in active currents up to 3 knots.
Advanced Imaging System
Features a factory-calibrated, rotating stereo camera supporting resolutions from 1080P to 4K (producing 12 MP high-resolution stills with full photogrammetry support), paired with an ultra-bright ~300,000 lm dynamic lighting array.
1X® Undersea Cable & Connector Technology
Integrates 1X®-designed pressure-tolerant cables, wire harnesses, and specialized connectors optimized for deepwater performance, eliminating critical failure points common in standard subsea interconnects.
Tether-Powered Architecture
Continuous high-voltage surface power delivery via the fiber optic tether, supported by an integrated onboard battery buffer reserve for emergency station-keeping and controlled recovery operations.
Modular Payload & Serviceability
Supports heavy sensor and tooling packages with a highly modular, field-serviceable layout that allows rapid, dockside swaps of critical modules.
Detailed Specifications – 1X® DV XLR
Performance Profile
| Parameter | Specification |
| Max Operating Depth | 1,000 m (3,280 ft) |
| Dimensions (L × W × H) | 790 × 586 × 296 mm (31.1 × 23.1 × 11.7 in) |
| Weight in Air | 38 kg (84 lbs) |
| Thrusters | 7 or more high-torque vectored thrusters; strong station-keeping in currents up to 3 knots |
| Camera & Imaging | Rotating stereo 1080P to 4K (dual sensors, 12 MP stills, photogrammetry & 3D mapping capable); 180° rotation |
| Lighting | ~300,000 lm dynamic LED array with camera orientation tracking |
| Tether | Gigabit fiber optic tether (3+ km high-bandwidth options available) |
| Power | Tether-powered continuous operation with onboard emergency reserve for safe recovery |
| Payload Capacity | Heavy modular payload support for multibeam/imaging sonar, laser scalers, manipulators, and sensors |
| Operating Temperature | -10 °C to +45 °C (enhanced thermal configurations available) |
Size, Weight & Construction
- Weight in Air: 38 kg (84 lbs)
- Frame: Corrosion-resistant HDPE and stainless steel with integrated buoyancy
- Design: Portable configuration with field-serviceable modules
Technical Architectures & Integrations
1X® Undersea Cable & Connector Integration
The 1X® DeepVortex XLR utilizes proprietary, undersea-rated cables, ruggedized harnesses, and custom-molded subsea connectors throughout its internal and external architecture. Standard commercial subsea connectors are frequently the primary point of electrical and telemetry failure due to repeated pressure cycling, sea-salt ingress, and cable stress.
To overcome this, 1X® components are engineered specifically for high-pressure deepwater environments, severe pressure cycling, and intense dynamic tether loads. This end-to-end integration dramatically improves long-term system reliability, simplifies field maintenance, and guarantees consistent, low-loss signal integrity across all critical power, control, and high-bandwidth data lines.
1X® Power & Nervous System Architecture
- Primary Power System: Continuous high-voltage, low-loss power distribution through the primary fiber optic tether, managed via 1X®-integrated redundant power distribution circuitry.
- Emergency Reserve: Onboard buffer battery sizing supports localized power conditioning, manages transient current spikes, and guarantees emergency station-keeping or a controlled ascent profile in the event of tether interruption.
- Dynamic Management: Integrated high-flex, torsion-resistant energy chains and subsea-rated connector arrays optimized to endure dynamic tether drag and rapid descent/ascent cycles.
Command, Control & Communications (C3)
- Ground Control Software: Proprietary 1X® downloadable software interface featuring real-time telemetry tracking, sensor logging, sonar visualizers, photogrammetry data streams, and interactive 3D asset mapping.
- Control Unit: Low-latency subsea control computer fully wired with 1X® robotics-grade, double-shielded communication cables to preserve signal-to-noise ratios.
- Navigational Resilience: Plug-and-play interfaces for optional acoustic positioning (USBL), Doppler Velocity Logs (DVL), and inertial navigation systems (INS) for precise positioning in high-turbidity zones or near structural hazards.
Engineering & Compliance
- Electrical & Harness Assemblies: Manufactured to IPC/WHMA-A-620 Class 3 space and military-grade high-reliability criteria, custom-sealed against pressure cycling.
- Marine Operations Guidelines: System safety, operational limits, and emergency recovery loops designed in alignment with IMCA (International Marine Contractors Association) guidelines for inspection-class ROVs.
- Quality Assurance: Built under strict ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing processes.
- Environmental Resilience: Engineered for prolonged exposure to deepwater pressure, corrosion, and dynamic mechanical loads.
🧬 The Core Nerve Center: Class 9 Subsea ROV Umbilical Systems
- Low-Loss Fiber-Optic Cores: Engineered to stream low-latency, high-bandwidth 4K video feeds, multibeam sonar arrays, and critical sensor telemetry from the seabed back to the surface control station without signal degradation.
- High-Voltage Copper Conductors: Optimized for continuous power distribution from the surface vessel down to the ROV’s active thruster network across thousands of feet of line.
- Kevlar® / Steel Armor Shielding: High-tensile structural armoring built to support the physical weight of the heavy vehicle while withstanding violent deepwater cross-currents.
- Pressure-Resilient Polyurethane Jacketing: Advanced marine-grade exterior jacketing formulated to prevent aggressive salt-water ingress and resist repeated, deep-ocean pressure cycling.
⚓ Full-Lifecycle Maritime Capabilities: Installation, Inspection & Maintenance
- Submarine Cable Installation Support: Real-time visual and telemetry monitoring during touchdown operations, ensuring precise cable placement on the seabed floor, monitoring tension, and verifying trench depth.
- Deepwater Inspection & Asset Mapping: High-bandwidth photogrammetry, multibeam sonar, and 3D structural mapping at depths up to 1,000 meters to audit cable integrity, burial status, and environmental shifting.
- Active Infrastructure Maintenance: Rapid deployment for post-storm damage assessments, locating faults, and utilizing modular payload integrations (such as manipulators) to assist in critical subsea repairs.
Beyond Standard Products: Custom Engineering & Component Supply
While the DeepVortex XLR represents our flagship standard platform for submarine cable inspection, 1X Technologies has deep expertise in delivering custom-engineered subsea robotic systems tailored to specific mission requirements. Whether you need modifications to the XLR platform or a completely new ROV architecture, our engineering team can design and build solutions around your operational needs, payload requirements, and environmental constraints.
Beyond full vehicle development, 1X also serves as a strategic component and subsystem supplier to other ROV and subsea equipment manufacturers. We provide high-reliability, pressure-tolerant cabling, custom wire harnesses, subsea connectors, energy chains, and complete robotic “nervous system” architectures to companies building their own underwater platforms. Our components are engineered to the same robotics-grade standards we use in our own systems—with an emphasis on long-term reliability under repeated pressure cycling, dynamic tether loads, and harsh marine conditions.
This dual capability—designing complete custom vehicles while also supplying critical subsystems to other manufacturers—mirrors the model used by leading advanced engineering firms that serve both as system integrators and as trusted component partners across the industry.
Government & Defense Heritage
1X Technologies brings significant experience as a government contractor, with a track record supporting U.S. Army and Navy programs as well as work with SubCom, one of the world’s leading undersea cable system providers. Our team has deep roots in undersea power systems, having worked on high-reliability power distribution, cabling, and energy architectures for demanding subsea applications over many years.
This heritage gives us a unique perspective when designing both complete ROVs and the critical internal components that make them reliable. We understand the extreme requirements of operating in deepwater environments—from pressure tolerance and corrosion resistance to signal integrity and long-term durability under continuous mechanical stress.
Why ROVs Deliver Better Value for Submarine Cable Inspections
Traditional submarine cable inspections using commercial divers typically cost between $5,000 and $15,000+ per day. These costs are often driven much higher by the need for specialized dive-support or cable-laying vessels, which can range from $30,000 to $100,000+ per day.
Because of depth and safety limitations, diver-led inspections are generally restricted to shallow near-shore approaches and cable landing points. This leaves large sections of critical subsea infrastructure difficult or impossible to inspect using traditional methods.
Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) offer a more capable and cost-effective alternative for many inspection scenarios. They provide consistent access to deeper water, repeatable survey capability, high-resolution imaging, and the ability to operate for extended periods without the recurring daily costs associated with large support vessels and dive teams.
When you consider that individual submarine cables often represent investments of many millions of dollars to manufacture and install, the ability to perform thorough, repeatable inspections using advanced ROV technology becomes a practical and financially sound approach for protecting these critical assets.
Partner With 1X
1X Technologies offers a complete subsea solution by combining our advanced ROV platforms with our own high-reliability submarine cables. This integrated approach supports both inspection and installation operations, allowing operators to work with a single trusted partner for critical subsea infrastructure projects.
Whether you are looking for a purpose-built subsea inspection platform, a heavily modified ROV configuration, or high-performance cabling and harness solutions for your own vehicle designs, 1X Technologies offers the engineering depth and manufacturing capability to support your program. Our combination of full-system development expertise and specialized component manufacturing allows us to serve as a flexible, high-reliability partner across a wide range of subsea robotics applications.
To discuss custom ROV development, component supply opportunities, submarine cable solutions, or to request a quote, please contact our robotics engineering team directly:
Email: robotics.engineering@1xtechnologies.com
Phone: 1-888-651-9990