Time-Synchronized Projector–Camera System Design and Underwater Sharpening Image Acquisition Experiment

Image measurement technology for structures on the seafloor and underwater is one of the most important underwater survey methods. The time-synchronized projector–camera (SyncPro-Cam) technology is employed to obtain clear images in turbid water environments in contrast to hazy images caused by light scattering and captured by standard cameras. In this study, we designed and built a SyncProCam prototype and verified its feasibility in acquiring clear images in turbid water environments. In the measurement principle of SyncProCam, the measurement range is determined by the trigger delay signal, camera scanning speed, and baseline length between the camera and the projector. Therefore, the prototype was designed such that these parameters can be controlled by external signals. The imaging experiments were conducted in turbid water environments with two different turbidity levels. Under these, conditions the output images from the prototype underwater SyncProCam system showed a very high signal-to-noise ratio compared to those captured by standard cameras.