Peering Into Ocean Depths With Eyes in the Back of Your Head

GALVESTON, TX--(Marketwired - August 12, 2015) - When OceanGate's Cyclops 1 dove deep into the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, it did so with an extra set of all-seeing eyes. Mounted to the five-man submersible was the Battelle HorizonVue™, a video camera that provides real-time, live video with a 360-degree view.

The camera helped the crew during its expedition this week that kicked off the "Eye on the Sanctuaries Tour," exploring ocean depths to 500 meters (1,600 feet) to view a rare coral spawning event, inspect a decommissioned oil drilling platform and explore a deep sea canyon in the Gulf of Mexico.

Intended for use by Work Class ROV operators, and the subsea oil and gas industries, the HorizonVue camera provides enhanced situational awareness in areas where keeping track of multiple objects simultaneously is critical.

The HorizonVue camera and software records all 360 degrees of the scene simultaneously. When the video is played back the user is able to use a digital pan and tilt window to explore the 360 image in an immersive environment to investigate what is missed by the array of cameras normally used.

The HorizonVue greatly reduces the time, effort and expense needed to work in crowded, complex undersea environments. The cameras, which are available for new demonstrations, can be easily retrofitted on vehicles currently in use or incorporated into newly built platforms using the COTS connector of choice. It can replace multiple cameras with one device that is lighter, uses less power and has no moving parts.

OceatGate's Cyclops 1 submersible is ideally suited as a platform for testing undersea technology. Seating for five people allows real-time collaboration during the dive, with the option to get immediate testing feedback. Direct communication with the submersible pilot provides flexibility to alter the dive profile based on changing conditions.

An invitation-only event and media opportunity will be held to share results from the expedition on Aug. 13 from 5-8 p.m. on the campus of Texas A&M Galveston, where invitees also can see the submersible and other technologies up close. For more information, contact Juliana Ruiz at media@oceangate.com or at (305) 606-5044.

Battelle

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.

For more information contact Katy Delaney at (614) 424-7208 or at delaneyk@battelle.org or contact T.R. Massey at (614) 424-5544 or at masseytr@battelle.org.

OceanGate

OceanGate Inc. is a privately held, Seattle, WA-based company. Founded in 2009, OceanGate provides manned submersible services for industry, research and exploration. The company provides a platform for deep-sea technology testing, underwater site survey and inspection services, underwater scientific research and data collection, and underwater filming. Clients of OceanGate rely on extreme flexibility, mobility, cost effectiveness, and operational superiority. OceanGate is committed to opening the oceans and ensuring the responsible use of marine ecosystems and the natural resources within them.

OceanGate's Cyclops series manned submersible represents an innovative approach to submersible design that takes advantage of new materials, existing commercial off-the-shelf technologies, and efficient operations to support the world's growing need for on-site, real-time collaboration at depth. www.oceangate.com.