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CMOS Image Sensor Camera Deployed For Underwater Exploration
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CMOS Lens
The Antarctic Geological Drilling (ANDRILL) program recently deployed an underwater camera that was equipped with an underwater drill. As part of the expedition and exploration, a new species of sea anemone was found on the Ross Ice Shelf off of Antarctica.
The robot with the attached camera was operated remotely and was capable of performing under-ice navigation and image gathering. The camera featured a fish-eye lens, forward lights, lasers and a projection cage. The camera also utilized CMOS image sensors. To study the underside of the ice, a large format camera was used to capture close up images and views of the new anemones.
Robotic and remotely controlled devices have been used in the past but this was one of the first incidences of it being deployed underwater and used for navigation to previously unexplored regions.
Because the ice shelf in some of the regions explored were more than 800 feet thick, it is impossible for human divers to withstand the depths because of the water temperatures. With the CMOS camera equipped robotic devices, the equipment was able to be deployed to remote locations and were able to stay underwater and operational for up to nine hours.
Universe Optics is a manufacturer of standard and custom CCD/CMOS lens assemblies for board and miniature camera applications including digital photography, video conferencing, surveillance, barcode scanning, machine vision and medical systems.