Photo credit: © 2021 MBARI | Mark Chaffey
Let’s face it, underwater footage is typically quite grainy, but the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) recently upgraded their camera to capture video in 4K ultra high-definition. The most important aspect of designing a deep-water 4K camera is its ability to operate under extreme conditions in a harsh environment that is cold as well as under immense pressure.
MBARI teamed up with the DeepSea Power & Light team to build the novel deep-water housing, while Fathom Imaging fabricated the optical design, which was critical to realizing the full capabilities of the 4K format. To achieve the 4K high-resolution and low-distortion image targets across the camera’s telephoto and focal range, the team had to first design a custom optical adapter. What was the end result? The MxD SeaCam, which is now in active use for science operations on MBARI’s Doc Ricketts ROV.
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Seeing the rapid adoption of 4K imaging and recognizing the scientific value that increased resolution brings to our research team, MBARI began evaluating opportunities to upgrade the HD camera systems on our ROVs to 4K in 2018. The new MxD SeaCam that we developed with DeepSea Power & Light captures life in the deep sea in astonishing detail,” said Mark Chaffey, MBARI Electrical Engineer.
