ORUS 3D expands its range with the MOD300
COMEX strikes again with a miniature ORUS 3D. After the 1000, 3000 and 6000m models, here comes the MOD300 !
With the 3000m ORUS 3D subsea photogrammetry system operating around the world since 2017, COMEX managed to touch a large part of the subsea world. Involved in visual inspections, dimensional controls, metrologies and assets monitoring in the Oil & Gas industry, the 3000m ORUS 3D is also used in marine science to monitor its wildlife and flora, as well as in archaeology for reconstructing subsea wrecks. Operating the 3000m system naturally brought up constructive feedbacks from COMEX clients and partners, especially on the system size. Indeed, if mounting the 3000m system on a Work-Class ROV was always easy, its integration on a few Observation-Class ROV raised the need for a smaller version that could be deployed by lighter units (Seaeye Falcon, Super Achille 2000) or even by divers.
Following numerous and constructive discussions, at the beginning of 2019 the COMEX Innovation team took up to the challenge with a simple yet ambitious objective : design, develop and fabricate a smaller and lighter system delivering the same high quality and accuracy in 3D rendering that could be operated down to 300m by both divers and small Observation-Class ROVs. As if this was not enough, the team members wanted this 300m version of the ORUS 3D to be ready in just over six months for the OCEAN 2019 exhibition in Marseille, France.
We were keen to show that our team has all the knowledge, passion, creativity and reactivity to match our clients’ need in minimal time.
After six intense and fruitful months it was ready. While the 3000m system spreads its hardware between an Embedded Processing Unit (EPU) casing and a 3-casing Acquisition Unit (ACU) all made of titanium, the ORUS 3D MOD300 gathers in a compact and lighter aluminium casing (only 25kg in air and neutral in water) all the technology that allows the same sharp and accurate reconstruction of underwater subjects.
Keeping a high level of performance in subsea 3D reconstruction was a key factor. While we used new processors to downsize the system, we managed to keep the original optical sensors and lenses so that the same level of accuracy can be reached when surveying any subject.
Nearly a year after the idea was thrown on the table and six months from the first tests in Marseille during OCEAN 2019 onboard the COMEX MV JANUS2 through the Super Achille 2000 ROV, the ORUS 3D MOD300 has shown its exceptional versatility. When mounted on an Observation-Class ROV, inspection duration is greatly reduced by the ease of deployment, even with free-swimming spreads. And when the access is too harsh for a motorised unit, a diver can easily bring the MOD300 where no other subsea photogrammetry system went before.
Still looking too big? COMEX chose to make the third sensor removable for when size matters or a dual sensor system is simply enough. This configuration proved to be very diver friendly, especially in subsea cave surveys.
For those who wonder if such a small system can deliver good quality data, COMEX Innovation team included their improved live quality control tool. This inhouse-developed application checks all along the survey the images’ quality and all the factors that will ensure you get the properly scaled model of what you did or didn’t see due to the water turbidity. This smart feature delivers a live reconstruction of the survey as it goes so you can make sure nothing was missed and everything is recorded in the box.
With its long-range experience in subsea photogrammetry, COMEX remains a key stakeholder in subsea vision based measurement market by bringing game-changing tools to the field providing a global service 24/365, remote support and appropriate training to their clients worldwide.
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