VideoRay,the manufacturer behind the Mission Specialist Defender robot recently chosen by the US Navy for underwater mine detection and neutralization,has successfully acquired Blue Ring Imaging,an innovative company based in St. Petersburg, Florida, specializing in 3D visualization, multiview perception, and simulation technologies for unmanned systems.
Blue Ring Imaging is recognized for its advanced mixed reality software, OctoViewTM, and the OctoCAMTM, a multi-view 360-degree camera. These innovations are set to enhance the Defender’s situational awareness and object detection capabilities. The company has an notable roster of clients, including the US Navy’s PMS 408, the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Navy RDSA, OceanX, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). These organizations will gain significantly from the enhanced resources resulting from VideoRay’s acquisition.
having delivered over 4,000 vehicles globally, VideoRay has established itself as a leader in the design and production of underwater robots. The latest Mission specialist systems provide the power and functionality typically associated with larger, more costly systems, all within a modular, one-person deployable format. This innovation not onyl reduces operational expenses but also simplifies logistics.
The integration of Blue Ring Imaging will significantly enhance VideoRay’s capabilities. The company plans to leverage Blue ring’s expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), autonomy, augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR), 3D visualization and reconstruction, simulation, and human-machine collaboration.This will enable vehicles to perform missions with greater autonomy and efficiency, often reducing the need for skilled operators, thereby saving both time and resources.
Chris Gibson, CEO of VideoRay, stated: “We are excited to harness Blue Ring Imaging’s remarkable capabilities. their technologies align seamlessly with our mission to advance underwater operations using portable robots and to enhance collaboration between humans and machines. We aim to revolutionize how operators engage with and control their unmanned vehicles through Blue Ring’s innovations.”
Casey Sapp,CEO of Blue Ring Imaging,expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition:
