In underwater inspections, focus isn’t just about getting a clear image—it’s about capturing the right data at the right time. Whether identifying a structural anomaly on a subsea asset or building a detailed 3D model of the seafloor, the clarity of both foreground and background features can make or break the success of a mission. That’s where the concept of depth of field becomes critical—and where Deep Vision Optics makes a measurable impact.
What is Depth of Field?
Depth of field (DoF) refers to the range of distance within a scene that appears acceptably sharp in an image. In underwater environments, this can be particularly difficult to achieve due to low light levels, particulate matter in the water, and the movement of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) or autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Traditional wide-angle underwater lenses often prioritize field of view at the expense of DoF, leading to sharp focus in only part of the image while other regions appear soft or blurred.
This becomes a problem when both near-field and far-field targets are important—think of inspecting a close-up anode on a ship hull while also keeping the surrounding structure in view, or surveying coral reef ecosystems where fine detail and broad context are equally valuable.
Why Depth of Field Matters for Subsea Data
In subsea inspection, data is often used for more than just visual reference—it feeds into photogrammetric reconstruction, AI-powered defect detection, and detailed condition assessments. For these applications, depth of field directly impacts data reliability and interpretability.
A wide depth of field enables:
- Simultaneous sharpness of both nearby and distant features, reducing the need for multiple passes or refocusing.
- Improved situational awareness, helping operators understand how localized defects relate to broader structures.
- Higher-quality 3D reconstructions, since photogrammetry algorithms rely on image sharpness across the entire scene.
Deep Vision Optics was specifically engineered to optimize this balance. Through precise lens selection, controlled aperture design, and camera-to-lens calibration, we maximize the sharpness of features throughout the scene—from objects just centimeters away to those a few meters in the distance.
Deep Vision Optics in Action
Consider a hull inspection scenario: an ROV equipped with Deep Vision Optics needs to inspect sacrificial anodes spaced intermittently across the hull surface. These anodes often protrude from the hull and are flanked by weld seams, coatings, or corrosion patterns that help contextualize their condition. With a wide depth of field, all these elements can be captured in crisp detail in a single pass—removing the guesswork and reducing the need for time-consuming reinspection.
Similarly, in an AUV pipeline survey, Deep Vision Optics enables high-speed data collection where sharp focus is maintained regardless of slight changes in standoff distance or pitch, ensuring consistent image quality even in dynamic conditions.
Seeing the Full Picture
Depth of field is often overlooked in favour of resolution specs or field of view, but in real-world subsea operations, it’s a defining factor in data usability. With Deep Vision Optics, Voyis brings this principle to the forefront—empowering operators and analysts to trust that what they see is what they get, regardless of how far it’s captured from.
By designing optics that keep the whole scene in focus, we’re not just capturing images—we’re preserving information, enhancing decision-making, and ultimately improving the efficiency of subsea missions.
