The Visual Information Derived From the Stereo Camera System Mounted on the Underwater Vehicle

The visual information is very important for the operation of an underwater vehicle such as a manned vehicle and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). And it will be also essential for functions which should be applied to an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for the next generation. Generally, it is got by optical sensors, and most underwater vehicles are equipped with various types of them. Above all, camera systems are applied as multiple units to the underwater vehicles. And they can construct a stereo camera system. In this paper, some new functions, which provide some type of visual information derived by the stereo vision system, are described. And methods to apply the visual information to the underwater vehicle and their utility are confirmed.