AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLE IMAGING & LASER SYSTEM
Hunter is designed to integrate with large and mid-size AUVs in the collection of single-swath stills and co-registered laser data.
Enabling the acquisition of high-resolution, precision, flat-field images at speeds of up to 5 knots, Hunter is suited to a variety of pipeline, survey and search applications. Purpose-built for automated operation, the advanced system delivers ease of integration for AUV manufacturers and one-off builders. Manual intervention is significantly reduced through independent control modes, intelligent image collection and automated image and data checking. Automation is supported by range-based focus control; sensor inputs; external autonomous control and autonomous mode selection, along with real-time laser and image quality assessment.
Power and Communications
- Optional integration bottle.
- PPS or NTP synchronisation.
- NMEA or alternative navigation string inputs.
- Mechanical integration options for constrained spaces.
- 24v to 300v power options.
- Communications via Ethernet.
- API and integration packages available.
- Data storage direct to drive.
CONTACT FOR MORE INFO
Unique Technical Features Deliver Unparalleled Efficiencies
Fully integrated, single-swath system, delivering high-resolution still imaging and laser profiling.
Technical Features
INTEGRATED PRECISION IMAGING
- Still imaging – UHD stills resolution of 4096 x 2304 pixels up to 7 fps. HD stills resolution of 2048 x 1152 pixels up to 30 fps.
- Laser imaging – Laser resolution of 100,000 points and 50 lines per second from green penetrating laser. Dense 3D laser point cloud data, synchronised with stills in time and space.
- Sequential imaging – 1 to 5 light pulses per millisecond, interleaved with laser and other sources, allow for high-speed AUV operation.
EXTENSIVE OPERATIONAL RANGE
- Operational heights of 2 to 10 metres (depending on light configurations).
- 1:1 swath to height ratio, single-swath system, with swaths of up to 10 metres possible
HIGH PRECISION OUTPUTS
- High-resolution still and laser imaging enables millimetre precision. The system operates at distances up to 10 metres and speeds of 5 knots.
ADVANCED CALIBRATION
- Fully calibrated system, including post-acquisition recalibration capability.
Efficiencies
WORKFLOW OPTIMISATION
- Time-stamped, co-registered, fully integrated still, laser and video metadata, output in EXIF format, improves post-process workflow.
- Three-pronged data collection and interrogation with other sensors produce further workflow efficiencies.
REDUCED OPERATION TIMES
- High visibility and extended range enable non-stop, high-speed operations, delivering time and cost efficiencies.
REAL TIME QUALITY ASSURANCE
- Real-time still, laser and video data feeds allow instantaneous quality assurance and post-acquisition calibration, ensuring results are not compromised by misalignment or changes in environmental conditions.
FULL COMPATIBILTY
- Compatibility with clients’ existing workflows and with Cathx Ocean eventing, positioning and Solid software, optimises efficiencies in data processing.
Explore System
Click and drag the 3D model for a 360° rotation.
This system is made up of two subsystems and each one is colour coded.
These colours correspond with the subsystem descriptions below the 3D model.
Explore Hardware
Click on the tabs below to view hardware and features
PULSAR I
The Pulsar I Strobe light is an Ultra High output LED-based Strobe light. The unique design of the strobe light means it can provide up to 150,000 lumen output power up to 10 millisecond pulse widths with low continuous power consumption from vehicle. The power bottle spreads out the instantaneous power delivered to the LEDs as a low power requirement from vehicle. This is achieved using a microprocessor controlled capacitor charge and discharge system within the power bottle. When used in conjunction with the Fast Fly Stills camera, these fast ultra-bright exposures allow users to extend imaging range and vehicle speed. It also extends the highest quality still imaging capabilities to smaller vehicles and AUVs.
Contact for more info
EASY SETUP AND CONTROL
- User-configurable resolution and frame rates.
HIGH-RESOLUTION OUTPUTS
- Pixel resolution below 1 millimetre.
- Frame rates from 7 fps for UHD stills and 30 fps for HD stills.
CONSISTENT FOCUS
- Range-based focus (external or longer range input)
LOW SCATTER, HIGH SPEED
- Synchronised camera and light, creating pulses at less than 2 microseconds.
CLEAR VISIBILITY
- Full flat-field correction with less than 5% non-uniformity.
WORKS WITH EXISTING SYSTEMS
- Time-stamped in EXIF.
- External sensor inputs in EXIF.
FAST FLY STILLS
Fast Fly Stills is a 12.5MP camera designed as a complete image capture and storage system. The camera manages all the imaging needs of a vehicle with minimal impact on the vehicle control systems. This camera has a sensor area typically twenty times larger than conventional subsea HD cameras and a fast dual-ARM processor. The Fast Fly’s high sensitivity, combined with low exposures and global shutter imaging, produces the sharpest still image detail available from a moving vehicle.
Contact for more info
EASY SETUP AND CONTROL
- User-configurable resolution and frame rates.
HIGH-RESOLUTION OUTPUTS
- Pixel resolution below 1 millimetre.
- Frame rates from 7 fps for UHD stills and 30 fps for HD stills.
CONSISTENT FOCUS
- Range-based focus (external or longer range input)
LOW SCATTER, HIGH SPEED
- Synchronised camera and light, creating pulses at less than 2 microseconds.
CLEAR VISIBILITY
- Full flat-field correction with less than 5% non-uniformity.
WORKS WITH EXISTING SYSTEMS
- Time-stamped in EXIF.
- External sensor inputs in EXIF.
FAST MODEL
A Combined Stills plus Laser processing camera and includes the laser projector module. The Green line laser is a 520nm long range laser which produces a straight line with uniform intensity over a long range due to its optimal wavelength for water penetration. This system can capture UHD Still images and laser profiles in a rapid sequence providing laser xyz data with co-registered still images
Contact for more info
EASY SETUP AND CONTROL
- User-configurable GUI.
- Real-time stills monitoring GUI for image and thumbnail review (ROV systems).
HIGH-RESOLUTION, REAL-TIME DISPLAY
- 50 lines per second at 2000 pixels per line.
- Cathx Ocean interface offers real-time display.
- Noise filtering
COMPREHENSIVE METADATA ACQUISITION
- Individual Nav tag for every image.
- EXIF data tags for Nav and other sensors.
- Automated range and scaling in real time.
- Sensor-registered, environmental optimisation modes for turbidity, white balance, colour, local optimisation, regional sea and position-based settings. ??
- PPS or NTP synchronisation.
INTELLIGENT IMAGING
- Full autonomous mode – fast API protocol for camera query and control.
- Real-time quality factors (laser), with closed loop controls.
- Range-based focus from laser or external range sensors.
- Sequential imaging, multi-source (and spectrum) imaging.
- Dual video and stills mode (ROV systems).
- Dual-camera, anti-shadowing function.
COMPATIBLE TECHNOLOGY
- Real-time laser profiles displayed in EIVA, QUINSy or similar.
- API for third party integration.
CONVENIENT STORAGE
- Direct write to NAS over Ethernet.
- On-board compression.
