The United Nations estimated that there are no less than 3 million shipwrecks littering the ocean flooring. Along with these wrecks, a full 0.5% of the ocean ground is made up of coral reefs. Whereas shipwrecks are extra dense round coral reefs (which is hardly a coincidence), that’s numerous space to cowl. Undersea video surveillance is additional challenged by visibility, energy transmission, and information communication. That’s why it’s so spectacular that NOUS is ready to present undersea surveillance utilizing off-the-shelf {hardware}.
NOUS is a really clumsy acronym for “uNdersea visiOn sUrveillance System” and that title was compelled as a reference to the phrase “νους” (Greek for one thing like “psychological exercise,” however which has English connotations associated to the philosophy of thought and cause). Now that the etymology nerds are happy, we will transfer on to NOUS’ function. It’s primarily an underwater CCTV system that’s helpful for monitoring shipwrecks, the well being of coral reefs, and even for a form of digital submarine tourism. A number of NOUS cameras networked collectively can create a kind of Google Streetview-style expertise and their feeds could be stitched collectively to generate a high-level picture of a portion of the ocean ground.
The perfect factor about NOUS is that it may be constructed utilizing available off-the-shelf elements. On the coronary heart is a Raspberry Pi 4 Mannequin B (8GB model). It receives energy from photo voltaic panels floating on the floor or by a cable operating to shore. It handles communication in an identical method, with both a fiber optic tether or a floating wi-fi transceiver platform. Particular person NOUS models can connect with a single platform or tether by a hub gateway.
NOUS additionally has synthetic intelligence capabilities that assist it proceed working even when no one is round to look at the video feeds. With the digital camera and onboard sensors, it will possibly monitor issues like water temperature, turbidity, and the presence of marine life or human exercise, comparable to an ROV (Remotely Operated Automobile) shifting by the world.
For testing, the NOUS system was positioned on the well-known Alonnisos shipwreck from the Classical Greek interval, which is close to the islet of Peristera within the Aegean Sea off the coast of Greece.
