Background

Hyperspectral cameras can distinguish different materials better than other cameras. The department of cybernetics has developed a low cost, miniature version of such a hyperspectral camera. The Department of Marine Technology aims to use one of these hyperspectral cameras for seafloor and lakebed mapping, where they can be used for algae and ecosystem health mapping and detection of anomalous materials.

Supervision will be mainly performed by Oscar Pizarro, Leonard Günzel, and Dennis Langer (Department of Marine Technology) in collaboration with the Department of Electronic Systems and Department of Engineering Cybernetics.

Topic

The goal of this project is to design and build a strobing flash illumination system that improves image quality and is precisely timed to the camera acquisition rate. Due to the lack of light underwater, any camera-based sensor is dependent on artificial light that the robotic platform is equipped with. This project involves electronic hardware design, software design, and hands-on work with robotic platforms.

Suggested tasks

• Getting familiar with and learning how to use our handheld miniature hyperspectral cameras.
• Design and build an electronic circuit for controlling an underwater illumination system.
  • Include in the design a way to synchronize strobing with camera acquisition (LEDs are already assembled).
• Characterize power consumption and system constraints when operating from a Blueye battery system.
• Perform laboratory experiments in the TBS water tank to evaluate illumination stability, spectral performance, and timing accuracy.
• Determine how precise control of light influences hyperspectral data quality.