Classification and design of hydro-lenses

Abstract

Subject of Research. The paper considers hydro-lenses for the study of the World Ocean, including its Arctic zone. The issues of work at shallow depths and the shelf are regarded as having been resolved; the work is actively carried out at medium depths, 300–500 meters, therefore, the projects involving the study of deep water become the most relevant. These tasks are complex and multidisciplinary and, surely, require large scientific, technical and financial investments for their solutions and are able to ensure the replacement of expensive imported equipment. In terms of complexity, they are not inferior to the issues of space exploration. Method. Maximum attention is paid to the design of specialized optical systems that provide the formation, input and transmission of visual information from distant objects, which cannot be obtained by any other means. It is important to understand the role and purpose of each element in the design of such systems. This knowledge helps the developer to find the optimal solution for selecting the starting point of the optical system. The design methods were based on the experience of ITMO University in the development of optical schemes for hydro-lenses and their implementation in national projects for the World Ocean exploration. The main approach used in the design of hydro-lenses involves combining the analysis of the known solutions, their classification, recommendations of opticians-experts skilled in the art, as well as structural and parametric synthesis with subsequent automated correction of lens circuits. In recent years, virtual prototyping of models of hydro-lenses and their interaction with the external environment has been actively used. Main Results. The main results and their practical significance consist in calculation procedure development for hydro-lenses intended for deep-sea exploration and the creation of a number of hydro-lenses for solving applied scientific problems. The paper presents diagrams of certain lenses. Practical Relevance. The developed hydro-lenses can be used to solve various scientific and economic problems at deep waters of the World Ocean, up to the maximum ones.