Ever wanted to see what’s below the surface of the water? If so, now may be you can. MIT engineers along with. Scientists have recently developed a new underwater camera that is able to capture images without using any external power source . The camera they created is so efficient that it can be powered by ambient light alone and can also work autonomously to take photos every few minutes when conditions are right.
How do the new Underwater Camera Work?
The new underwater camera can be powered by light alone. Researchers created a new type of integrated circuit ULPICs that can be powered by ambient light. These ULPICs can then be embedded into the underwater camera that captures images. With this system, the camera works like a regular underwater camera, but it can also be powered by ambient light — no external power source required.
What are the challenges of making an Underwater Camera work without a battery?
Any new technology has the potential to fail. If a battery fails or the equipment malfunctions, the camera can be damaged or destroyed. In order to make an underwater camera with no battery work, researchers had to first figure out how they could power the camera with light alone and still prevent it from getting damaged from the environment. Besides , researchers also had to figure out a way to make the camera able to withstand the harsh conditions of being underwater.
Conclusion:
Perhaps the most exciting applications of this new underwater camera are in conservation efforts. With underwater imaging systems that require no batteries, researchers hope this will lead to more deep-sea monitoring systems that can monitor environmental conditions below the sea floor more efficiently. This could be particularly useful for monitoring marine life and the health of coral reefs.