Scientific visualization for advanced deep-sea exploration equipment and underwater automatic manipulation

Abstract

Scientific visualization is important in modern technological activities and engineering exploration. Due to the dark and high-pressure characteristics of deep sea, it is difficult to visualize the entire operation of deep-sea equipment. Thus, it is of great necessity to use virtual simulation technology to help people understand the operation process of some deep-sea exploration equipment on the sea floor. In this paper, science, art, and new media are combined through artistic rendering, visual processing, and the technology of virtual reality (VR) and holography, which makes the exploration of the latest deep-sea lander and intelligent submersible named “Luling” look more intuitive and smart and have more visual impact and expression. Apart from that, automatic manipulation videos of the rover robot in the deep sea captured by the Luling are effectively nested to realize the goal of virtual and real presentation. The designed scientific visualization of deep-sea equipment can not only adapt to the display output of VR, mobile phones, TV, 360° showcase, and other platforms, but also achieve immersive experience and virtual simulation learning through HTC Vive VR equipment. The technology and design way of scientific visualization in this paper is universal and suitable to the same kind of engineering simulation.