DOVE: Dolphin Omni-directional Video Equipment
Terry E. Boult · 2000
Visual exploration and reconnaissance underwater, whether by humans or unmanned vehicle, presents many challenges. One of these challenges is the limited visibility distance in much of the worlds oceans. When visibility is limited there are significant advantages, as natural evolution has shown, to a very wide field of view. While traditional “Fish-eye” lenses have been around for years, they distort the image in a way that is very difficult to convert back into a perspectively correct image. This paper examines the use of recent designs in omni-directional cameras and their use for underwater exploration. Not only is the wide-field of view important in low-visibility, but with a more than hemispherical field of view, it also results in a system which places minimal “aiming” requirements for the camera operator. Marine mammals, in particular dolphins and whales, have a natural ability to navigate and locate targets even in near-zero visibility conditions and having their help with exploration or reconnaissance has many potential advantages. This paper discusses an omni-directional camera designed to be carried by marine mammals. The system was tested with both a dolphin and a Beluga whale. This paper briefly discusses both system issues for collection and interfaces for human viewing of the resulting omni-directional video.