Need to Know Facts About the Tow Camera System
SubC’s Tow Camera System is the ideal solution for collecting transects of seafloor footage from vessels working in coastal waters. The result is smooth video and images captured from a consistent altitude.
We’ve compiled a list of facts and answered some of our most frequently asked questions to help you learn more about the Tow Camera System and how it can be the right solution for your project.
Development & Design
1.
The design of the Tow Camera System is built upon input from customers who operate drop and tow cameras, along with proven research from those in the scientific community. Through our research we decided to base our design upon a few established methods that are detailed in the scientific research papers below:
A vessel-towed camera platform for surveying seafloor habitats of the continental shelf - CSIRO
A Quantitative, Non-Destructive Methodology for Habitat Characterisation and Benthic Monitoring at Offshore Renewable Energy Developments - University of Plymouth, Griffith University
2.
The system was developed in collaboration with the Fisheries and Marine Institute and the Government of Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The process took approximately two years and there were three prototypes before the final production version was ready for release.
One of the first prototypes of the Tow Camera System.
An early Tow Camera System rendering.
The third Tow Camera System prototype.
The final, production version of the Tow Camera System.
3.
We designed the system to save marine researchers, oceanographers, and other professionals time and money. In order to collect the same type of footage and post-survey report generation, clients currently have to build their own system from a collection of components, which can be time-consuming and costly. What’s more, the success of these homegrown subsea imaging amalgamations relies on constant trial and error and troubleshooting. It also means that each research group has to have dedicated personnel for development and maintenance of these custom systems.
Many homegrown tow systems are built from a collection of components, which can be time-consuming and costly.
The Tow Camera System can also operate on smaller vessels as was tested and proven during our Tow Camera System sea trials. Additional time savings comes from data synthesis and report generation as the Tow Camera System is compatible with post-survey workflows such as BIIGLE. All-in-all, with the Tow Camera System you can not only free up budgets but skilled personnel so they can focus on conducting more science research.
4.
SubC's first step to designing the Tow Camera System was to develop a new form of power and signal transmission to reduce cabling cost and complexity. The result was SubC’s new Boost-Power Comms technology (BPC). BPC can transmit power and data over a low-cost twisted-pair subsea cable to provide enough power to drive the camera, two LEDs, lasers, and other sensors while enabling live HD video and data to the surface. The low-cost kevlar tow cable has four functions:
Deliver power to the system
Bi-directional communication topside to the camera and sensors
Live HD video from camera to topside
1500kg break strength for towing the system
Technical Specs and Support
5.
Unlike homegrown solutions, the Tow Camera System comes fully equipped and ready for deployment. The system includes:
Sturdy frame, designed to withstand harsh ocean conditions
Up to 410m of kevlar tow cable
SubC’s signature Rayfin camera, fully adjustable and ready to record, capture, and store up to 40+ hours of video and 1000’s of high-resolution digital stills
Rayfin Software that provides a real-time feed and comes standard with free updates to keep your system cutting edge
NMEA sensor data logging of GPS and altitude with built-in depth, tilt and roll sensors
Adjustable LEDs and lasers for precision and superior footage
Optional electric winch to deploy your system
6.
Since it’s a complete system, the tow frame camera, winch and cable each have their own high-performing technical specifications:
7.
We know how important environmental stewardship is so the system has been designed to have very little contact with the seafloor. This is achieved without any active components such as thrusters. The intelligent design uses hydrodynamics, buoyancy, a small drag chain, and a clump weight with embedded altimeter to passively control the distance to seafloor from the camera system. This ensures that photos and video have a consistent subject distance.
8.
Each system comes with two hours of design and integration support with SubC’s engineering team to help facilitate installation aboard your vessel.
How It Works
9.
The flight performance of the solution is based on its mechanical design and does not rely on active components.
The tow cable doubles as both a high-strength lift cable while also carrying power and data. It is rated at 455Kg (1,000lbs) of tow strength and 1,500Kg (3,300lbs) breaking strength. The strength comes from kevlar which keeps the size of the cable to only 9mm.
The 30Kg clump weight has an embedded altimeter that gives a real-time reading in the topside PC software. The distance to seafloor is directly controlled by the winch pay in and out, which is the only active mechanical part of the system operation.
Applications
10.
While the idea was born to help clients with marine benthic monitoring, the potential of the Tow Camera System is much broader. During its development, we had discussions with other organizations to identify how else this system could be used. We've had interest from those investigating archeological sites, to fisheries research, to conservation projects, to search and rescue! Any kind of ocean survey that requires consistent transect imaging of the seafloor can be done with the Tow Camera System.