MarineSitu

Solar Powered Ocean Camera Buoy Development

The project focused on designing and prototyping a compact, solar-powered oceanographic buoy intended to operate an underwater camera and data transfer system for up to a year with minimal batteries. The buoy concept needed to integrate solar panels, onboard batteries, charge control electronics, a control computer, a camera, and a cellular antenna, along with a mounting frame designed with buoyancy foam, anchoring, and deployment and recovery pick points. The design also needed to target practical field use by keeping the buoy under 1 meter in diameter and about 100 pounds so it could be transported and deployed from a small vessel, while accounting for wave exposure, corrosion, and biofouling. Completion of the prototype enabled MarineSitu to evaluate it for long-term deployment and potential commercialization. This capability would enable persistent underwater ecosystem and biodiversity monitoring at marine conservation sites without cabling the buoy to shore for power.