Subsea Technologies: Optical Components in Deep Waters22nd Oct 2022
Without the development of subsea technologies, much of the knowledge and supplies we have today simply wouldn’t be available. This includes elements such as important findings from deep-sea exploration, precious resources from mining and means of delivering telecommunications across stretches of the ocean. Here, Knight Optical dives into the world of subsea technologies and runs through the optical components that are used to guarantee their high performance.
At Knight Optical, we work with a variety of subsea companies on everything from high-precision optical components for cameras and lights through to lasers, sensors and remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs). These systems are employed to conduct tasks that fall under the exploration and product of oil and gas categories – as well as other oceanography duties, such as studying aquatic ecosystems, for example.
Deep-Sea Technologies: AUVs and ROVs
Working at these deep-sea levels, coupled with the high dangers of working with oil and gas, means many tasks are undertaken via autonomous means, with ROVs, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and robotics leading the way.
Many of these systems are used for important work such as inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) operations. For optimal implementation, some of these underwater mobile devices have joined forces to generate hybrid solutions that offer users the best of both worlds.
For example, USA-based robotic technology specialist Houston Mechatronics’ ‘Aquanaut’ transforms from an AUV into an ROV in less than 30 seconds, so it can commence tasks such as inspecting oil and gas infrastructure, operating valves and using tools1.
Another instance where the benefits of the manoeuvrability and long-distance cruising of AUVs and the hands-on capabilities of undertaking more complex tasks that are associated with ROVs come together is Oceaneering’s Freedom Autonomous Vehicle. Again, combining the characteristics of an AUV and ROV, the Freedom is dubbed as a next-generation subsea vehicle and is intended to undertake tasks like “pipeline and seabed surveys, close visual inspection and light intervention activities2“.
What Optical Components Are Used for Subsea Technologies?
As members of the Global Underwater Hub (GUH), we have a long-standing history of supplying our premium, high-precision optic components to engineers and manufacturers within the subsea technologies industry.
Particularly popular amongst our customer base are viewports and protection dome ports to protect internal camera systems from water ingress and impact damage. Due to the environment that these viewports and domes will be subjected to, the durability and longevity of any components play a key role in effective operation.
As well as our stock components (most ready for next-day dispatch), our bespoke optics are equally prevalent in this field thanks to their customisable options – such as tailored dimensions, optical coatings and substrates, the latter of which is highly beneficial for those looking for a project- or waveband-specific materials for optimal transmission and optic components that can stand up to high-pressure, underwater atmospheres.
What Substrates Are Commonly Used for Subsea Technologies?
Three substrates that are typically used for viewports and domes are:
BK7 (or equivalent)
Commonly used for submersible ROVs in the form of Optical Domes, BK7 (or equivalent) substrates offer two leading characteristics in underwater environments – durability and high transmission.
With excellent transmission from 300nm up to 2µm, BK7 is a relatively hard material with excellent chemical durability and is typically used for high-pressure viewports and underwater cameras.
Known as one of the hardest materials on earth, Sapphire (Al2O3) is another popular substrate for windows and viewports of submersible applications.
At Knight Optical, our custom-made range of Sapphire Windows are particularly popular amongst those specifying optical components for underwater devices. As such, we offer a variety of options to meet a wide range of requirements. We provide custom Sapphire Windows at a zero-degree plane, C-cut plane, and random-cut plane, usually cut along a plane that is 60° off-axis.
To learn more about our custom-made Sapphire Windows, click here.
Last but by no means least in our submersible substrate line up is Gorilla® Glass, a brand name most of us are familiar with. Chemically strengthened to provide excellent scratch resistance, Gorilla® Glass Windows are normally used as cover glass to protect devices’ displays – you’ll commonly find them on everyday items such as tablets, smartphones, and laptops.
Offering great performance in the visible range, Gorilla® Glass is also an ideal substrate for windows and viewports in submersible applications.
To discover our range of Gorilla® Glass windows, please click here
The Future of Subsea Technologies & Engineering
The future looks bright for subsea technologies and engineering. Our partnership with the Global Underwater Hub (GUH) and cooperation with leaders in the subsea provide us with first-hand industry insights into the industry of tomorrow.
This includes growth in sales and project demand in the world of robotics, ROVs, AUVs and underwater LiDAR (light detection and ranging) devices – the latter of which we also have a strong relationship with – as well as brand-new, dedicated subsea events and innovations on the horizon.
Commenting on the industry and our involvement in the field, Colin Overton, Knight Optical’s CEO, says:
“It couldn’t be a more exciting time to be working in the field of subsea technologies and engineering, and we’re looking forward to working with manufacturers and engineers on next-generation, pioneering underwater devices.
“It’s an industry we’ve played a part in for a long time, and the innovations that arise from this sector never cease to amaze myself and the team at Knight Optical.”
Why Choose Knight Optical for your Application?
Discerning customers rely on Knight Optical not only for the premium quality of our output and in-house state-of-the-art Metrology Laboratory and QA Department’s capabilities but because – as well as a range of Stock Optics (available for next-day dispatch) – we also offer our optics as Custom-Made Components.
With over three decades of experience under our belt and a host of long-standing world-renowned customers on our books, we are proud to have worked on some of the most ground-breaking innovations.
If you are looking for premium-quality, bespoke optical components, please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of the Technical Sales Team here.
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Teknolojia ya chini ya bahari: Vipengele vya macho katika Maji ya kina 22 Oktoba Bila maendeleo ya teknolojia ya chini ya bahari, maarifa mengi na vifaa tunavyo leo havingekuwa inapatikana. Hii inajumuisha mambo kama vile matokeo muhimu kutoka kwa utafutaji wa bahari ya kina, rasilimali za thamani kutoka kwa uchimbaji madini na njia za kutoa mawasiliano ya simu katika sehemu za bahari. Hapa, Knight Optical inashuka katika ulimwengu wa teknolojia za chini ya bahari na hupitia vipengele vya macho vinavyotumiwa kuhakikisha utendaji wao wa juu. "Knight Optical inafanya kazi na kampuni mbalimbali za chini ya maji katika kila kitu kutoka kwa vipengele vya macho vya usahihi wa juu kwa kamera na taa hadi lasers, sensorer na magari ya chini ya maji ya kusafiri kwa mbali (ROVs).""" Mifumo hii ni kutumika kufanya kazi ambayo kuanguka chini ya utafutaji na bidhaa ya mafuta na gesi makundi <unk> kama vile majukumu mengine oceanography, kama vile kusoma mifumo ya ikolojia ya majini, kwa mfano. Utafiti wa AUV na ROVs: Utafiti wa AUV na ROVs unaonyesha kuwa kazi ya chini ya maji, pamoja na hatari kubwa ya kufanya kazi na mafuta na gesi, inamaanisha kazi nyingi zinafanywa kupitia njia za kujitegemea, na ROVs, magari ya chini ya maji ya kujitegemea (AUVs) na roboti zinazoongoza njia. Mifumo hii inatumika kwa ajili ya kazi muhimu kama vile ukaguzi, matengenezo, na ukarabati (IMR) shughuli. Kwa utekelezaji bora, baadhi ya vifaa hivi vya chini ya maji vimeungana ili kutengeneza suluhisho la mseto ambalo linatoa watumiaji bora ya ulimwengu wote. Kwa mfano, kampuni ya teknolojia ya roboti ya Houston Mechatronics, inayofanya kazi katika eneo la Marekani, inaweza kubadilisha gari la AUV kuwa ROV kwa muda wa sekunde 30 hivi, na hivyo kuanza kazi kama vile ukaguzi wa miundombinu ya mafuta na gesi, kuendesha valves na kutumia vifaa. Mfano mwingine ambapo faida za maneuverability na safari ya umbali mrefu ya AUVs na uwezo wa mikono ya kufanya kazi ngumu zaidi zinazohusiana na ROVs huja pamoja ni Freedoms Autonomous Vehicle ya Oceaneering. "Kama mchanganyiko wa sifa za AUV na ROV, Freedom inaitwa ""kizazi kijacho cha gari la chini ya maji"" na inakusudiwa kufanya kazi kama vile ""pipeline na uchunguzi wa bahari, ukaguzi wa karibu wa kuona na shughuli za uingiliaji wa mwanga.""" Ni Vipengele Vipi vya Maoni Vinavyotumiwa kwa Teknolojia za Chini ya Bahari? Kama wanachama wa Global Underwater Hub (GUH), tuna historia ya muda mrefu ya kusambaza vipengele vyetu vya juu vya usahihi wa uwazi kwa wahandisi na watengenezaji ndani ya sekta ya teknolojia ya chini ya maji. Hasa maarufu miongoni mwa wateja wetu ni viewports na ulinzi dome bandari kulinda mifumo ya ndani ya kamera kutoka maji kuingia na uharibifu athari. Kwa sababu ya mazingira ambayo vioo hivi vya kuona na vipaji vitakuwa chini ya, uimara na maisha marefu ya vipengele vyovyote hucheza jukumu muhimu katika utendaji mzuri. Kama vile vipengele vyetu vya hisa (kingi tayari kwa usafirishaji wa siku inayofuata), optics zetu za kibinafsi ni sawa katika uwanja huu shukrani kwa chaguzi zao za kubuni - kama vile vipimo vya kibinafsi, mipako ya macho na substrates - ambayo ni muhimu sana kwa wale wanaotafuta vifaa maalum vya mradi au waveband kwa uhamisho bora na vipengele vya macho vinavyoweza kusimama chini ya hali ya hewa ya chini ya maji. Ni Substrate gani zinazotumiwa kwa kawaida kwa ajili ya Teknolojia za Chini ya Bahari? BK7 (au sawa) Substrate ni kawaida kutumika kwa ajili ya ROVs submersible katika fomu ya Optical domes, BK7 (au sawa) substrate kutoa sifa mbili kuu katika mazingira ya chini ya maji: kudumu na uhamisho wa juu. Kwa uhamisho bora kutoka 300nm hadi 2μm, BK7 ni nyenzo ngumu na ya kemikali ya kudumu na hutumiwa kwa kawaida kwa vioo vya shinikizo la juu na kamera za chini ya maji. Sapphire (Al2O3) ni moja ya vifaa vya nguvu zaidi duniani, na ni substrate nyingine maarufu kwa ajili ya madirisha na viewports ya maombi ya chini ya maji. Katika Knight Optical, safu yetu ya kawaida ya Madirisha ya Sapphire ni maarufu hasa miongoni mwa wale wanaopendekeza vipengele vya macho kwa vifaa vya chini ya maji. Kama vile, sisi kutoa aina mbalimbali ya chaguzi ili kukidhi mbalimbali ya mahitaji. Kwa mfano, madirisha ya sapphire ya kawaida huchongwa kwa njia ya ndege ya digrii ya sifuri, ndege ya C-cut, na ndege ya random-cut, ambayo kwa kawaida hupunguzwa kwenye ndege ya 60 ° mbali na mhimili. Ili kujifunza zaidi kuhusu madirisha yetu ya Sapphire yaliyotengenezwa kwa ajili yako, bonyeza hapa. Mwisho lakini kwa njia yoyote chini ya chini ya maji substrate yetu line up ni Gorilla Glass, jina la bidhaa wengi wetu ni ukoo na. Kwa sababu ya nguvu ya kemikali, Gorilla Glass ni kioo cha kawaida cha kufunika vifaa vya kila siku kama vile kompyuta, kompyuta ndogo, na kompyuta ndogo. Kwa kutoa utendaji mkubwa katika eneo linaloonekana, Gorilla® Glass pia ni substrate bora kwa ajili ya madirisha na viewports katika maombi ya chini ya maji. Kwa ajili ya kugundua aina yetu ya Gorilla Glass, tafadhali bonyeza hapa: The Future of Subsea Technologies & Engineering (FUTURE OF SUBSEA TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERY) Ushirikiano wetu na Kituo cha Ulimwenguni cha Chini ya Maji (GUH) na ushirikiano na viongozi katika bahari ya chini ya maji hutupa ufahamu wa tasnia ya mkono wa kwanza katika tasnia ya kesho. Hii inajumuisha ukuaji wa mauzo na mahitaji ya mradi katika ulimwengu wa roboti, ROVs, AUVs na vifaa vya chini ya maji vya LiDAR (kugundua mwanga na umbali) - ambayo sisi pia tuna uhusiano mkubwa na - pamoja na matukio mapya ya chini ya bahari na ubunifu kwenye upeo wa macho. "Kulingana na Colin Overton, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Knight Optical, ""Hakuna wakati wa kusisimua zaidi kufanya kazi katika uwanja wa teknolojia na uhandisi wa chini ya maji, na tunatarajia kufanya kazi na watengenezaji na wahandisi kwenye kizazi kijacho cha vifaa vya chini ya maji.""" "Ni sekta ambayo tumekuwa tukicheza sehemu kwa muda mrefu, na uvumbuzi ambao hutokea kutoka sekta hii kamwe huacha kushangaza mimi na timu ya Knight Optical. ""Kwa nini kuchagua Knight Optical kwa maombi yako?" Wateja wenye busara hutegemea Knight Optical sio tu kwa ubora wa juu wa pato letu na uwezo wa ndani wa hali ya sanaa ya Metrology Laboratory na Idara ya QA lakini kwa sababu <unk> pamoja na safu ya Stock Optics (inapatikana kwa usafirishaji wa siku inayofuata) <unk> tunatoa pia macho yetu kama Vipengele vya Custom-Made. Kwa zaidi ya miongo mitatu ya uzoefu chini ya ukanda wetu na idadi ya wateja wa muda mrefu wa ulimwengu maarufu kwenye vitabu vyetu, tunajivunia kuwa tumefanya kazi kwenye baadhi ya uvumbuzi wa msingi zaidi. Ikiwa unatafuta vifaa vya ubora wa juu, usahihi wa vifaa vya macho, tafadhali usisite kuwasiliana na mwanachama wa Timu ya Uuzaji wa Ufundi hapa. Ulaya, UK, Asia na RoW: +44 (0) 1622 859444 USA na Canada: