talked to Pat three or four days ago and she told me that they have enough ROV spare parts to practically build another ROV so I'm really suprised at this.
Bob
Well apparently they didn't feel the need to include a new motherboard - damn the bad luck!
I suspect--without having any proof to back it up--that they don't have a Seabotix employee on board who could swap motherboards inside the ROV.
I've built a lot of computers in my day (I'm using one of my homebrews as I write this), and I know a lot of what it is like to take them apart and put them back together. Odds are that it is not a job for amateurs, and it is conceivable to me that TIGHAR couldn't afford to take a pro with them.
Nothing but a mere guess but I would think that with the cadre of talent on the expo that they could've muddled through a motherboard swap if a spare was available. I build, repair, upgrade, and configure computers for a living and to this day I sometimes make drawings, take pictures, or do whatever is needed to aid in reassembly of unfamiliar equipment.
BTW: It was noted that the ROV contractor is Advanced Remote Marine Services. The onus for the spares would be on their back not Seabotix the manufacturer. Lets just hope that what they have left is enough for the task of at least getting something definitive on the anomoly.
LTM,
Don