Underwater Motion Capture 

Qualisys provides motion capture cameras suitable for all  possible environments, including indoor, outdoor and even  underwater captures. Our underwater cameras are the world’s  only commercially available optical motion capture cameras for  underwater use and are designed for mobility, robustness and  trouble-free operation. 

Qualisys underwater cameras are enclosed in waterproof housing and  equipped with a strobe built specifically for underwater use. Each camera  is pressure tested to 5bar (40m/130ft depth).  

The system can be synchronized with external hardware just like any other  Qualisys motion capture system. Naturally, Qualisys Track Manager takes  full advantage of all the features of the cameras and allows streaming and  exporting of 3D and 6DOF data to 3rd-party applications in real-time.

FEATURES

• High-speed underwater motion capture 

• Underwater video with full HD @ 85 fps

• Resolution: 2, 4, 9 and 12 MP

• Low latency for real-time applications

• Underwater: IP68 housing pressure tested to 5bar (40m/130 ft depth)

• Integrated high-power LED strobe

• Combined gigabit Ethernet and power cable

• Stainless steel and polycarbonate underwater housing 

• Up to 30 meters (100ft) range

Applications 

UNDERWATER BIOMECHANICS  Qualisys have many customers within underwater biomechanics using  underwater cameras. Examples include lower body gait analysis for  in-water rehabilitation using underwater treadmills. Another example is studying the kinematics of swimmers, where  researchers and coaches use data collected by the underwater motion  capture system to analyze the athlete's dive and stroke. It is also possible to combine Qualisys underwater cameras with the skeleton solver  functionality in QTM to capture underwater motions performed by actors  in games and films.

Analyze all phases of the lap, including start, on-block,  flight, the underwater phase, and all the way to the 15m  (50ft) point using a Qualisys system.

MARINE  An underwater motion capture system is an essential tool in the testing  and developing of underwater vehicles and equipment. Examples of use  include the tracking of free-running AUVs, underwater objects towed in  a towing tank, mooring lines, fishnet trawl doors, and oil pipeline motions,  to mention a few. The Arqus A12UW is well-suited to track motions in large areas with a  measurement range of up to 30 meters (100ft). With its wide field of view,  the smaller Miqus Underwater is the better choice in spaces like narrow  tanks or small pools.

Arqus A9UW or A12UW can be used for large  volume marine measurements, such as large  Ocean basins and towing tanks. 

Products 

ARQUS UNDERWATER The Arqus underwater cameras are robust, high resolution cameras for  medium to long-range measurements. The camera is equipped with a  powerful strobe with better light distribution compared to its predecessor  Oqus Underwater. The cameras is also smaller and lighter with improved  mounting and offers longer measurement distances. Both Miqus and Arqus have custom-designed housing made of marine  grade stainless steel and polycarbonate/acrylic with high corrosion  resistance and are pressure tested to 5bar (40m depth).

Arqus Underwater is a robust, high resolution camera  primarily suited for medium to long-range measurements,  from 7-30m (25 - 100ft).

MIQUS UNDERWATER The smaller, more nimble Miqus opens up new possibilities for underwater  measurement in confined spaces. At just over 2kg, the Miqus is half the  weight compared to the Arqus series. Its wide field-of-view enables  deployment in small tanks or pools with short distance to the subject. 

SYNCHRONIZED UNDERWATER VIDEO Miqus Underwater video can be synchronized and calibrated together with  the motion capture cameras to enable 3D video overlay. It can be used as  a standalone video solution, bridging the gap between small, hand-held  consumer devices and more expensive cameras that are typically used in  industrial settings. The Miqus Underwater video camera streams MJPEG  compressed, full HD video in 85 fps over standard gigabit Ethernet. 

Miqus Underwater cameras are ideal to use in small to  medium sized volumes, up to 15m (50ft) range.

COMBINING ABOVE AND UNDERWATER By combining Qualisys groundbreaking underwater cameras with an above  water camera system, in what is known as a 'Twin system' setup, aboveand underwater movement can be merged together into a single capture.

SYSTEM CONNECTION Each camera has a high-quality underwater  connector, which connects to a water-protected  connection unit placed on land. This cable  carries both power and data. A connection unit drives up to three underwater  cameras from one power supply and several  connection units can be connected, either daisychained or in a star configuration.