The ROV platform supports underwater research activities, allowing scientists to observe and document the deep-sea environment safely and efficiently. It is equipped with a wide range of sensing technologies – optical, acoustic, and inertial – all integrated into a single, cohesive system.
What makes it unique?
The innovation lies in the synergistic fusion of optical and acoustic sensing, enriched with navigation data from inertial sensors, to produce detailed and georeferenced reconstructions of underwater environments. Unlike systems that rely entirely on either vision or sonar, this platform merges both worlds into a single modelling approach. Optical data offers high-fidelity detail and texture, while acoustic data ensures large-scale spatial coherence—even in turbid or low-visibility conditions. This multi-sensor integration allows for seamless transition between wide-area mapping and microscale analysis, overcoming the limitations of individual technologies.
Key Features
- Multisensory integration: Combines stereo vision, RGB imaging, multibeam sonar, and inertial navigation into a unified framework for underwater mapping.
- Photogrammetric system (RPS): Utilises the 3DResearch ROV Photogrammetric System (RPS), including a stereo camera (ZED 2), a high-resolution RGB camera, and integrated lighting, all managed through an edge-based architecture powered by an Nvidia Jetson Nano.
- ROV compatibility: The platform is fully integrated with the VideoRay Mission Specialist ROV, enabling flexible deployment in various underwater scenarios.
- Opto-acoustic fusion: Acoustic sensors provide robust spatial context, while optical systems add fine detail and visual realism, ensuring scalable and high-quality 3D outputs.
Who is it for?
- Marine scientists – For conducting high-resolution mapping and environmental monitoring across various underwater habitats.
- Underwater archaeologists – For documenting submerged cultural heritage sites with precise 3D reconstructions.
- Environmental monitoring organizations – For collecting accurate spatial and visual data to support ecosystem analysis and conservation efforts.
- Cultural Heritage institutions – For preserving and studying underwater assets using scalable and reliable survey technologies.
- Diving professionals – For supporting technical operations, inspections, and data collection in complex underwater environments.
Why it matters
Accurate and scalable underwater reconstructions are essential for a wide range of applications—from site monitoring and habitat mapping to the preservation of underwater Cultural Heritage. This integrated ROV platform provides a versatile and high-performance solution, capable of generating reliable, multi-resolution models even in difficult conditions. By leveraging the strengths of both optical and acoustic sensing, it offers a new standard in underwater data acquisition: a complete perception system that enables robotic exploration through sight and sound.
Availability
The ROV platform will soon be available, allowing users to explore detailed underwater heritage sites.
