A marine animal standardized photographing system for offshore investigation and a photographing method thereof

Abstract

This invention provides a standardized marine animal photography system and method for marine surveys, comprising a placement platform for holding marine organisms, the platform including a dead marine organism area and a live marine organism area; an imaging module including a camera for acquiring images of marine organisms; and a moving device connected to the imaging module for adjusting the spatial position and shooting posture of the imaging module to correspond with the marine organisms on the placement platform. Through the coordinated operation of the moving device (X-axis, Z-axis, Y-axis movement mechanism) and the camera flipping mechanism, the imaging module can be controlled to move to a preset height, horizontal position, and flip angle without manual disassembly or adjustment of the support. This completely solves the problems of traditional supports only adapting to a single situation, cumbersome manual adjustments, and poor consistency. The photography method includes two modes: dead marine animals and live marine animals, thus achieving better photography results.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of photography technology, and in particular to a standardized photographic system and method for marine animals used in marine surveys. Background Technology

[0002] In the process of marine biological surveys, biological classification and identification, biological measurement, germplasm resource archive construction and digital image database construction, it is often necessary to take on-site photographs of marine swimming animal samples. Biological photography in marine surveys usually relies on portable photography equipment carried by researchers and simple tripods.

[0003] Because the subjects being photographed vary, at least three types of subjects are commonly photographed in marine surveys: live fish, for which clear lateral records of body surface, color, and shape need to be made in a short time; small dead specimens, which are usually suitable for overhead photography on a table; and large dead specimens, which are inconvenient to move to a table due to their size and usually need to be photographed on the ground or deck. As such, the shooting environment is constantly changing, and existing equipment can usually only be adapted to one of the scenarios. Therefore, it is necessary to frequently adjust the simple tripod manually, which is labor-intensive. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a standardized marine animal photography system and method for marine surveys, in order to solve the technical problem that traditional simple camera brackets are only suitable for one situation and require frequent manual adjustments.

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides a standardized marine animal photography system for marine surveys, comprising: The placement platform is used to hold marine life, and the platform includes areas for dead marine life and areas for live marine life. An imaging module, including a camera, for acquiring images of marine life; A mobile device, connected to the imaging module, is used to adjust the spatial position and shooting posture of the imaging module to correspond with the marine life on the platform.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the moving device includes a column, an X-axis moving mechanism mounted on the column, a Z-axis moving mechanism mounted on the X-axis moving mechanism, a Y-axis moving mechanism mounted on the Z-axis moving mechanism, and a camera flipping mechanism mounted on the Y-axis moving mechanism.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the X-axis moving mechanism includes a first crossbeam mounted on a column, a first guide mechanism mounted on the first crossbeam, a movable first mounting plate mounted on the first guide mechanism, a first motor mounted on the first mounting plate, a first gear mounted on the rotating shaft of the first motor, and a first rack mounted on the first crossbeam and meshing with the first gear; the Z-axis moving mechanism includes a first mounting seat mounted on one side of the first mounting plate, a second motor mounted on the first mounting seat, a second gear mounted on the rotating shaft of the second motor, a first guide mechanism mounted on one side of the first mounting seat, a movable vertical beam mounted on the first guide mechanism, and a second rack mounted on one side of the vertical beam and meshing with the second gear; the Y-axis moving mechanism includes a second mounting seat below the vertical beam, a third motor mounted on the second mounting seat, a third gear mounted on the rotating shaft of the third motor, a first guide mechanism mounted on one side of the second mounting seat, a second crossbeam mounted on the first guide mechanism, and a third rack mounted on one side of the second crossbeam and meshing with the third gear; the camera flipping mechanism includes a second mounting plate mounted on one side of the second crossbeam, a fourth motor mounted on one side of the second mounting plate, an L-shaped mounting base mounted on the rotating shaft of the fourth motor, and the imaging module mounted on the L-shaped mounting base.

[0008] In the preferred embodiment, a magnetic base is provided below the column, and a tie rod is provided between the placement platform and the column.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, a fish tank made of transparent material is set up in the area for live marine life. The fish tank has a trapezoidal cross-section that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, and a background panel is set up on one side of the fish tank. A background panel is also set up in the area for dead marine life.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment, a color chart and a scale are provided on the background board.

[0011] In the preferred embodiment, multiple flexible transparent strips are installed in the dead marine life zone.

[0012] In the preferred embodiment, an inclined plate is provided on one side of the placement platform.

[0013] A standardized method for photographing marine animals for marine surveys, comprising: Place the dead marine animals on the backdrop of the dead marine life area, and then press the head and tail of the marine animals with an elastic transparent strip; control the movement of the mobile device and make the imaging module on the mobile device take pictures at a preset height above the marine animals; or place the live marine animals in the fish tank, control the movement of the mobile device and the camera flipping mechanism to flip the imaging module 90 degrees to the side of the fish tank to take pictures.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, when taking pictures of the corresponding fish tank, the swimming speed of the live fish is captured, and the speed of the X-axis moving mechanism is adjusted according to the swimming speed of the live fish, so that the movement direction and speed of the imaging module are consistent with the live fish. Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: This invention utilizes the coordinated operation of a moving device (X-axis, Z-axis, Y-axis moving mechanism) and a camera flipping mechanism to switch between "dead individual overhead shooting mode" and "live organism side shooting mode." The imaging module can be controlled to move to a preset height, horizontal position, and flip angle, eliminating the need for manual disassembly or adjustment of the support. Furthermore, both the dead individual area and the live individual area are equipped with standardized background boards, color charts, and scales, ensuring the comparability of images from different batches and species. This completely solves the problems of traditional supports being limited to a single scenario, requiring cumbersome manual adjustments, and exhibiting poor consistency. Compared to traditional simple camera supports that typically only fix one shooting angle and height (e.g., only supporting vertical overhead shooting or only supporting horizontal side shooting), which require operators to repeatedly manually move the tripod, change the gimbal, and refocus when shooting dead marine life (overhead shooting) and live marine life (side shooting), this invention significantly improves work efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments: Figure 1 This is a front view structural diagram of the overall layout of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a top view of the overall layout of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a side view of the mobile device of this invention mounted in one direction according to an embodiment; Figure 4 This is a side view of the mobile device of the present invention mounted in another direction; Figure 5 This is a diagram of the first gear mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a photographic view of the fish tank location according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Reference numerals: Placement platform 11; Column 14; Magnetic base 15; Pull rod 16; Background plate 17; Elastic transparent strip 18; Inclined plate 19; Imaging module 2; X-axis moving mechanism 3; First crossbeam 31; First guide mechanism 32; First mounting plate 33; First motor 34; First gear 35; First rack 36; Z-axis moving mechanism 4; First mounting seat 41; Second motor 42; Vertical beam 44; Second rack 45; Second guide mechanism 46; Y-axis moving mechanism 5; Second mounting seat 51; Third motor 52; Second crossbeam 54; Third rack 55; Third guide mechanism 56; Camera flipping mechanism 6; Second mounting plate 61; Fourth motor 62; L-shaped base 63; Fish tank 64. Detailed Implementation

[0017] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that if terms such as "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" appear, these terms indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0018] Example 1 Please see Figure 1-6 As shown, the present application provides a technical solution: a standardized marine animal photography system for marine surveys, including a column 14, a placement platform 11, an imaging module 2, and a mobile device.

[0019] The placement platform 11 is a rectangular stainless steel platform located on one side of the column 14. The platform 11 is clearly divided into a dead marine life area and a live marine life area. The dead marine life area is located on the left, and the live marine life area is located on the right. The platform height of the placement platform 11 can be set relatively low. A ramp 19 with anti-slip texture is installed on the right edge of the platform 11 to assist in dragging large marine animals from the deck onto the placement platform 11. This allows both large and small dead marine animals to be easily moved from the deck to the placement platform 11.

[0020] A replaceable matte white background panel 17 is affixed to the tabletop of the dead marine life area. The background panel 17 is printed with a standard 24-color color chart and a black and white scale bar (minimum scale 1mm). Along both sides of the dead individual area, multiple elastic transparent silicone strips 18 are fixed at equal intervals (approximately 10cm apart). Each elastic strip is fixed at both ends to the edge of the tabletop, and can be pulled up and released in the middle to gently press and hold the head and tail of the dead animal, preventing it from curling or shifting. Multiple strips are evenly spaced to accommodate different sizes of marine life. For example, with fish, regardless of whether a large or small fish is placed, starting from a fixed position on one side (i.e., the position of one elastic strip remains unchanged), the fish body is placed on top of the elastic strip, and the leftmost and rightmost elastic strips, which are pressed down by the fish, are lifted to hold the fish in place. The same method applies to other animals.

[0021] A transparent acrylic aquarium 64 is placed in the live marine life area. The aquarium 64 has a trapezoidal cross-section, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. Specifically, the width at the opening is 30cm, the width at the bottom is 20cm, the height is 25cm, and the length in the depth direction (Y-axis direction) is 40cm. A removable blue background plate 17 is attached to the rear side of the aquarium 64 (the side away from the initial position of the imaging module). This background plate 17 also has a color chart and a scale bar.

[0022] Imaging module 2 includes an industrial camera and an LED fill light ring surrounding the camera lens. The camera uses a CMOS sensor with a resolution of 20 megapixels or higher and features autofocus. The fill light ring consists of 12 high color rendering index LEDs, providing uniform illumination in low-light environments. The fill lights can also be individually positioned on either side of the placement platform 11 for convenient photography.

[0023] The moving device is mounted on column 14 and is used to drive the imaging module 2 to move in three-dimensional space and change its shooting posture. The moving device includes an X-axis moving mechanism 3, a Z-axis moving mechanism 4, a Y-axis moving mechanism 5, and a camera flipping mechanism 6. All motors are servo motors and are controlled by a programmable logic controller (PLC) connected to a host computer.

[0024] The X-axis moving mechanism 3 includes a first crossbeam 31 fixed to the top of the column 14. A first guide mechanism 32 is provided along the length of the first crossbeam 31; the first guide mechanism 32 is a combination of a linear guide rail and a slider. A first mounting plate 33 is fixed to the slider. A first motor 34 is mounted on the first mounting plate 33, and a first gear 35 is mounted on the output shaft of the first motor 34. A first rack 36, meshing with the first gear 35, is also fixed to the first crossbeam 31. When the first motor 34 rotates, the first mounting plate 33 moves along the X-axis (horizontally left and right).

[0025] The Z-axis moving mechanism 4 includes a first mounting base 41 fixed to the side (front) of a first mounting plate 33. A second motor 42 and a vertically oriented second guide mechanism 46 are mounted on the first mounting base 41. The second guide mechanism 46 is also a combination of a linear guide rail and a slider. The slider is mounted on the first mounting base 41, and a second gear is mounted on the output shaft of the second motor 42. A vertical beam 44 moves along the guide rail in cooperation with the slider. A second rack 45 is fixed to the side of the vertical beam 44, and the second rack 45 meshes with the second gear. When the second motor 42 rotates, the vertical beam 44 moves along the Z-axis (vertically up and down). The Y-axis moving mechanism 5 includes a second mounting base 51 fixed to the bottom of the vertical beam 44. A third motor 52 and a horizontally oriented third guide mechanism 56 are mounted on the second mounting base 51. The third guide mechanism 56 is also a combination of a guide rail and a slider. The slider is mounted on the second mounting base 51, and a third gear is mounted on the output shaft of the third motor 52. The second crossbeam 54 moves via the guide rail and the slider. A third rack 55 is fixed to the side of the second crossbeam 54, and the third rack 55 meshes with the third gear. When the third motor 52 rotates, the second crossbeam 54 moves along the Y-axis. The meshing principle of the second and third gears with the rack is the same as that of the first gear.

[0026] The camera flipping mechanism 6 includes a second mounting plate 61 fixed to the end of the second crossbeam 54. A fourth motor 62 is fixed on the second mounting plate 61, and the output shaft of the fourth motor 62 extends horizontally and connects to an L-shaped base 63. The imaging module 2 is fixed to the vertical surface of the L-shaped base 63. The fourth motor 62 can drive the L-shaped base 63 to rotate around the output shaft of the fourth motor 62, thereby causing the imaging module 2 to flip between vertically downward and horizontal orientations, with a flipping angle of 0°-90°, and can be locked at any angle.

[0027] The PLC controls the rotation angle and speed of the first to fourth motors via pulse signals and receives feedback signals from the encoders of each motor, thereby achieving precise positioning of the imaging module 2 on the X, Y, and Y axes (positioning accuracy ±0.5mm). The host computer is equipped with dedicated software that can input imaging parameters (such as shooting height, flip angle, follow speed gain, etc.) and save the captured images.

[0028] A magnetic base 15 is fixed to the bottom of the column 14. The magnetic base 15 is an electromagnet structure, which generates a strong magnetism when energized, allowing the column 14 to be attracted to the iron deck of the ship. A tie rod 16 is installed between the placement platform 11 and the column 14, connecting the side of the placement platform 11 and the middle of the column 14. This keeps the placement platform 11 and the column 14 relatively fixed, suppressing relative displacement caused by the ship's rolling, thus preventing relative shaking during photography.

[0029] Example 2 This embodiment utilizes the photography system described in Embodiment 1 to perform standardized photography of marine animals, including: Steps for photographing dead marine animals: The dead marine animals (such as fish, shrimp, crabs, and cephalopods) are slid onto the background panel 17 of the dead marine life area via the ramp 19, with their sides parallel to the scale bar and color chart. Depending on the animal's size, the elastic transparent strip 18 is pulled up to a suitable position, pressing down on the animal's head (behind the eyes) and tail (in front of the caudal peduncle), applying a slight pressure of approximately 0.5N to ensure the animal is fixed and its key morphological features are not obscured. The "death photography mode" is selected on the host computer. The software automatically controls the moving device to move the imaging module 2 to a preset height directly above the animal (e.g., 30cm from the animal's back). The LED fill light ring 22 automatically turns on and adjusts to a suitable brightness. The camera automatically focuses on the animal's body surface, continuously capturing three images, which are automatically saved in JPEG format. The images record the shooting height, motor position, and color chart information in metadata form. After the photography is complete, the moving device automatically returns to its origin (beside the pillar 14), the elastic transparent strip 18 is released, and the animal is removed. The above photography can also be manually controlled by the operator to adjust the shooting height.

[0030] Steps for taking side-view photos of live marine animals: Fill aquarium 64 with approximately two-thirds of its volume with clean seawater. Carefully place a live marine animal (such as a live fish) into aquarium 64, allowing it to swim freely. Select the "Live Animal Side-Following Photography Mode" on the host computer. The system first controls the camera flipping mechanism 6 to rotate the imaging module 2 90 degrees, making the camera lens horizontal and facing the side wall of aquarium 64. Start the speed detection and following program: the camera acquires a side video stream at a rate of 30 frames per second. The software uses the inter-frame difference method combined with the Kalman filter algorithm to identify the center of gravity position of the target live fish in real time and calculates the instantaneous swimming speed V_fish of the fish along the X-axis (horizontal left and right). The PLC reads the V_fish value and dynamically adjusts the speed and direction of the first motor 34 using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control algorithm, so that the imaging module 2 follows the fish along the X-axis at a speed V_camera. The control target is V_camera = V_fish × K, where K is the gain coefficient (usually between 0.95 and 1.05, which can be manually adjusted) to ensure that the relative speed between the camera and the fish in the horizontal direction is close to zero. During the tracking process, the camera continuously autofocuses and takes continuous shots at a rate of 5 frames per second until a clear full-body image of the fish's side profile is captured (the dorsal fin, anal fin, lateral line, and other features of the fish must be clearly visible). After taking the picture, the moving device automatically returns to the origin, and the fourth motor 62 rotates in the opposite direction to restore the camera to a vertically downward posture.

[0031] If a top-down view is required, select "Live Animal Top-Down Photography Mode". At this time, the camera flipping mechanism 6 is kept at 0° (lens downward), and the moving device moves the camera to a position 40cm directly above the opening of the fish tank 64 to directly capture the top-down image of the live animal. Before taking the picture, a background board 17 is placed at the bottom of the fish tank 64.

[0032] The above live overhead photography mode is selected by the operator, and the shooting height can also be controlled by the operator.

[0033] After all the photography tasks are completed, the PLC-controlled moving device moves the imaging module 2 to the origin position on one side of the column 14. The operator turns off the power to the magnetic base 15 and loosens the locking nut of the pull rod 16 to separate the column 14 from the placement platform 11 for easy storage in the ship's cabin.

[0034] The above embodiments are merely preferred technical solutions of the present invention and should not be considered as limitations on the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention should be limited to the technical solutions described in the claims, including equivalent substitutions of the technical features described in the claims. That is, equivalent substitutions and improvements within this scope are also within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A standardized photographing system for marine animals for offshore investigations, characterized in that, include: Column (14); The placement platform (11) is set on one side of the column (14) and is used to place marine life. The placement platform (11) is set with a dead marine life area and a live marine life area. Imaging module (2), which includes a camera for acquiring images of marine life; A mobile device, mounted on a column (14) and connected to the imaging module (2), is used to adjust the spatial position and / or shooting posture of the imaging module (2) so that the imaging module (2) corresponds to the marine life on the placement platform (11).

2. The standardized photographing system for marine animals for offshore investigation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The moving device includes an X-axis moving mechanism (3) mounted on a column (14), a Z-axis moving mechanism (4) mounted on the X-axis moving mechanism (3), a Y-axis moving mechanism (5) mounted on the Z-axis moving mechanism (4), and a camera flipping mechanism (6) mounted on the Y-axis moving mechanism (5).

3. A standardized marine animal photography system for marine surveys according to claim 2, characterized in that, The X-axis moving mechanism (3) includes a first crossbeam (31) mounted on a column (14), a first guide mechanism (32) mounted on the first crossbeam (31), a movable first mounting plate (33) mounted on the first guide mechanism (32), a first motor (34) mounted on the first mounting plate (33), a first gear (35) mounted on the rotating shaft of the first motor (34), and a first rack (36) mounted on the first crossbeam (31) and meshing with the first gear (35); the Z-axis moving mechanism (4) includes a first mounting base (41) mounted on one side of the first mounting plate (33), a second motor (42) mounted on the first mounting base (41), a second gear mounted on the rotating shaft of the second motor (42), and a second guide mechanism (46) mounted on one side of the first mounting base (41), and a movable vertical shaft mounted on the second guide mechanism (46). The beam (44) is provided on one side of the vertical beam (44) and the second rack (45) meshes with the second gear; the Y-axis moving mechanism (5) includes a second mounting base (51) provided below the vertical beam (44), a third motor (52) provided on the second mounting base (51), a third gear provided on the rotating shaft of the third motor (52), a third guide mechanism (56) provided on one side of the second mounting base (51), a second crossbeam (54) provided on the third guide mechanism (56), and a third rack (55) provided on one side of the second crossbeam (54) and meshing with the third gear; the camera flipping mechanism (6) includes a second mounting plate (61) provided on one side of the second crossbeam (54), a fourth motor (62) provided on one side of the second mounting plate (61), an L-shaped seat (63) provided on the rotating shaft of the fourth motor (62), and the imaging module (2) is provided on the L-shaped seat (63).

4. A standardized marine animal photography system for marine surveys according to claim 2, characterized in that, A magnetic base (15) is provided below the column (14), and a pull rod (16) is provided between the placement platform (11) and the column (14).

5. A standardized marine animal photography system for marine surveys according to claim 1, characterized in that, A fish tank (64) made of transparent material is set in the live marine life area. The cross-section of the fish tank (64) is a trapezoidal structure that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. A background plate (17) is set on one side of the fish tank (64). A background plate (17) is also set in the dead marine life area.

6. A standardized marine animal photography system for marine surveys according to claim 5, characterized in that, A color chart and a scale are provided on the background board (17).

7. A standardized marine animal photography system for marine surveys according to claim 5, characterized in that, Multiple flexible transparent bands were set up in the dead marine life zone (18).

8. A standardized marine animal photography system for marine surveys according to claim 1, characterized in that, An inclined plate (19) is provided on one side of the placement platform (11).

9. A photographing method for a standardized marine animal photographing system for marine surveys as described in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, include: Place the dead marine animals on the background board (17) of the dead marine life area, and then use the corresponding elastic transparent strips (18) to press down on the head and tail of the marine animals respectively; control the movement of the mobile device and make the imaging module (2) on the mobile device take pictures at a preset height directly above the marine animals; or, place the live marine animals in the fish tank (64), control the camera flipping mechanism (6) to flip the imaging module (2) 90 degrees, and then control the mobile device to move to the side of the fish tank (64) to take pictures.

10. A standardized method for photographing marine animals for marine surveys according to claim 9, characterized in that, When taking pictures in the corresponding aquarium (64), the swimming speed of the live marine animal is detected, and the movement speed of the moving device in the horizontal direction is adjusted according to the swimming speed so that the movement direction and speed of the imaging module (2) are consistent with the live marine animal.

Images