SeeStar: a low-cost, modular and open-source camera system for subsea observations

Scientists and engineers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) have collaborated to develop SeeStar, a modular, light weight, self-contained, low-cost subsea imaging system for mid-to long-term monitoring of marine ecosystems. SeeStar is composed of separate camera, battery, and LED lighting modules, each rated to 300 meters depth. The system can be deployed in a variety of scenarios utilizing stills and video and can be operated either autonomously or tethered on a range of platforms, including ROVs, AUVs, landers, piers, and moorings. The priorities for implementation included using off-the-shelf and readily available components as much as possible, and providing all designs, schematics and fabrication documents online as open source, so that others can easily build and adapt the camera system for their own uses. The long-term goal of this project is to have a widely distributed marine imaging network across thousands of locations, to develop baselines of biological information.