Page 55: of Marine Technology Magazine (June 2014)

Never-before-seen Views with Subsea Camera

A new camera developed by Battelle aims to reduce the time, effort and expense needed to create complete 360-degree viewpoints in the depths of the ocean or in oth- er hard to reach places. The HorizonVue M360 Deep combines Battelle’s history in maritime engineering technology with RemoteReality’s specialized optic designs and software to create a unique instrument capable of providing continuous 360-degree video feed at the ocean’s surface or depths of up to 10,000 ft., the manufacturer said.

Intended for use by the ocean science community, it can be installed on underwater robots, ROVs, submarine periscopes or other stationary observation platforms. The camera also could be used by the oil and gas industry for enhanced underwater awareness in harsh environments.

Current technologies rely on multiple cameras including those that can pan, tilt and zoom. For example, Google trucks drive down the street with numerous cameras that capture images which are then “stitched” together to create the panoramic view, which takes time. During the Gulf Oil spill, underwater footage was captured by

ROVs with multiple cameras. The HorizonVue M360 Deep can perform all these activities with just one camera and is lighter, smaller and uses less power than others on the market. An acrylic housing protects the camera so that it can withstand 5,000 pounds of pressure per square inch. www.battelle.org

The LUXUS Dropplate

MacArtney introduced the LUXUS Dropplate, an underwater camera platform enabling marine opera- tors to perform underwater investigations by means of three LUXUS Power LED lights and any LUXUS camera. Manufactured from high density polyethylene with a frame shielding the onboard cameras and lights from impacts on the seafl oor, the LUXUS Dropplate provides the ruggedness and stability needed for performing any basic visual inspection task in harsh underwater environments.

The LUXUS Dropplate does not require a specifi c handling system and can be readily deployed from a small boat or basic vessel of opportunity. Ef- fi cient operation of the onboard camera and light equipment is achieved using a LUXUS Multi Me- dia Controller and a Kevlar TV cable, while inte- grated lifting handles make for easy deployment and recovery of the system. A small MacArtney hand winch can also be used.

The LUXUS Dropplate is primarily targeted to- wards oceanographic and basic inspection ap- plications. The system provides a fl exible, off-the- shelf alternative to custom built towed systems and traditional drop cameras. This versatility in applications, coupled with minimal deployment and handling requirements, make the LUXUS

Dropplate an extremely fl exible and cost effective solution. The LUXUS Dropplate can be supplied as a plug-and-play solution complete with cameras, lights, controller, cable and winch system. www.macartney.com

Cour tesy: Battelle www.seadiscovery.com

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