Site: Camera Alive Ltd.
Campus Tree
Aberdeen Science and Technology Park
Aberdeen AB22 8GW, Scotland
United Kingdom
Telephone: 0224 826 611
Fax: 0224 706 905
Telex: 739791

Date Visited: May 14, 1993

Report Author: C. Brancart

ATTENDEES

WTEC:

D. Blidberg
C. Brancart
L. Gentry
J. Mooney

OTHER:

J. Sampson (ONR London)

HOSTS:

John Turner B.Sc., F.Inst.D., M.B.I.M., Managing Director

BACKGROUND

Camera Alive was established in 1975 to provide specialized noncontact measurement systems and underwater equipment to the offshore oil and gas industry.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Camera Alive has developed a basic stereo video system that has been augmented for noncontact measurement capability.

DC2: Underwater High Resolution Digital Array Camera

The DC2 is a high resolution digital array camera designed for underwater use to 1,000 m. The system has the following features:

• Operates under the PC environment (MS-Windows based software control)
• 1242 x 1152 x 8 bit digital data output
• Does not require specialist frame acquisition hardware
• Extremely accurate calibration is enabled through full pixel for pixel correlation
• Supplied as a fully operational system including camera and RS 422 card, rated to 1 Mbits/second), software, surface cabling, ready to work with standard 386 personal computer

NCS2: Noncontact Video Measurement System

The NCS2 is a noncontact measurement system with video input. The system is a fusion of software and hardware to:

• Capture video from video cameras VD1 and VD2
• View real-time stereo video in color
• Take dimensional measurements from the captured stereo video
• Output these measurements to a CAD

The system operates with MS-Windows, allowing nonspecialized users to operate the system with minimum training and experience.

SUMMARY

Camera Alive has operational equipment that has proven to be successful in the underwater environment.

REFERENCES

General write-up.

DC1: High Resolution Digital Array Camera. Brochure.

DC2: Underwater High Resolution Digital Array Camera. Brochure.

NCS2: Noncontact Video Measurement System. Brochure.

Stereo Viewing and Noncontact 3-D Measurement. General brochure with useful information.