The device is capable of taking colour photos, even in dark underwater environments, and transmits image data wirelessly through the water.
An estimated 95 per cent of the Earth’s oceans have never been observed, which means less of our planet’s oceans has been seen than the far side of the moon or the surface of Mars.
The high cost of powering an underwater camera for a long time, by tethering it to a research vessel or sending a ship to recharge its batteries, is a steep challenge preventing widespread undersea exploration.
The autonomous camera is powered by sound. It converts mechanical energy from sound waves traveling through water into electrical energy that powers its imaging and communications equipment. After capturing and encoding image data, the camera also uses sound waves to transmit data to a receiver that reconstructs the image.
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