Subsea Cameras
Discover cutting-edge solutions from 6 leading global suppliers
Cathx Ocean has introduced the INKA Iris camera system, a platform designed to transform subsea operations by delivering real-time, AI-driven data processing directly onboard vehicles.
Unveiled at UDT 2025, INKA, Cathx Ocean’s onboard hardware processing platform, empowers subsea vehicles with the capability to make AI-driven decisions in real-time. The Iris camera, the first to be built on the INKA platform, combines high-performance imaging with onboard data processing, offering a compact and power-efficient solution.
This technology, developed through extensive customer feedback and field testing, works seamlessly with the Clarity Autonomous Perception Platform to enable subsea vehicles to process AI models directly on the sensor, optimizing data analysis as it’s captured.
Unlike traditional systems that rely on time-consuming post-mission processing, INKA Iris processes data at the point of capture. This shift reduces the need for manual intervention, streamlines survey operations, and accelerates decision-making. Ideal for mid-sized autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and compact remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) working in shallow waters, INKA Iris allows for efficient, real-time data analysis, including use cases such as image enhancement, event detection, and automated classification—all while on the move.
Adrian Boyle, CEO of Cathx Ocean, said, “Survey professionals don’t need more raw data—they need actionable insights as fast as possible.
“With INKA Iris, we’ve delivered real-time AI processing on the vehicle itself, eliminating unnecessary post-mission workflows. This system is the result of 2.5 years of development, shaped by extensive customer feedback, and it marks our entry into the shallow-water market with a powerful, compact imaging solution that can run AI models at the point of data collection.”
Key Features and Benefits
- Onboard Real-Time AI Processing: Process data as it’s captured, reducing post-processing and lowering data transmission requirements. With up to 70 hours of onboard storage, the system enables automated eventing to streamline workflows.
- Intuitive User Interface & Easy Integration: INKA Iris’s combination of sensor and software creates one of the most user-friendly systems on the market, minimizing training time and enhancing operational efficiency.
- Optimized for Mid-Size AUVs and Compact ROVs: Designed with a compact form factor, INKA Iris minimizes payload demands while ensuring full integration with vehicle power and communication systems. It performs reliably at speeds of up to 5 knots, making it ideal for fast-moving AUVs.
- Superior Imaging in a Compact Package: With sub-millimeter resolution, high pixel density, and pulsed lighting technology, INKA Iris delivers clear, high-fidelity imagery even in challenging subsea environments.
- Auto Features for Seamless Operation: Features like Fixed Focus, auto exposure, and auto white balance reduce the need for manual adjustments, ensuring consistent, high-quality image capture.
- Future-Proof, AI-Driven Hardware: INKA Iris is built to support advanced image enhancement, object detection, and machine learning-driven analysis, ensuring that the technology remains cutting-edge for years to come.
INKA Iris was developed with the unique demands of offshore survey and shallow-water operations in mind. Whether for environmental monitoring, subsea infrastructure inspection, or scientific research, the platform’s AI-driven capabilities empower operators to make faster, more informed decisions, maximizing operational efficiency and reducing costs.
Cathx Ocean will showcase INKA Iris at Ocean Business 2025, providing attendees with a firsthand look at how this technology is revolutionizing subsea data acquisition. The first orders are expected to ship in May 2025.
With INKA Iris, Cathx Ocean is ushering in a new era of subsea operations—where real-time, AI-driven processing meets high-performance imaging to deliver faster, more efficient results.
