Its compact size, high brightness (30,000 lumens @ 5ms, 42,000 lumens @ 200µs), and low current draw (550 mA @ 24Vdc), make it ideal for AUV-based still photography, where payload size and power budget are critical. Drive electronics, thermal protection, and intelligent microprocessor control are integral in the Dragonfish’s small 1ATM, 6,000m-rated, anodized aluminum housing. External power and trigger are all that are needed to operate. The unit is easily synced to a standard TTL camera shutter, and will self-quench automatically when the shutter line is released, allowing user-controllable strobe durations up to 5ms. It can also be quenched by an alternate source using the independent quench line. Standard beams are a wide 62⁰ flood, or a narrow 35⁰ spot.
Dragonfish is currently being used successfully on the Remus 100, 600 and 6000 AUVs. It was selected because it provides more illumination with less power consumption than competing products, in a smaller package, and at a lower cost. In addition, unlike potted LED solutions, its 1ATM housing design allows easy repair and upgrade of LED elements, electronics, and control firmware.
The compact design weighs only 318 or 420 grams in water (depending on options), and measures 70 mm in diameter and 70 mm long. Housed in a 6061-T6 AHC aluminum housing, it is available in depth ratings of 1,000 or 6,000 meters.
