Expedition goal: During this six-day expedition aboard MBARI’s flagship research vessel David Packard, members of the Bioinspiration Lab will use innovative imaging technologies to study the morphology and biomechanics of marine life. Data from this expedition will be shared with collaborators in the Deep Ocean Inspiration Group to advance understanding of animal biomechanics for bioinspired design.

Expedition dates: August 19–24, 2026

Ship: R/V David Packard

Location: Monterey Canyon, Sur Ridge

Research technology: DeepPIV, EyeRIS, FathomNet Database, FathomVerse, Multi-view Macro Imaging Systems, Particle Image Velocimetry System, ROV Doc Ricketts, Tabletop 3D Reconstruction System, Telecentric Imaging System

Chief scientist: Kakani Katija

An engineer tests an imaging system in a dark lab. She is standing in front of a computer reviewing data. In the background is engineering equipment emitting red light. — Principal Engineer Kakani Katija leads MBARI’s Bioinspiration Lab, developing innovative tools to visualize the structure and movement of marine life in their natural environments. The team’s research seeks to enable the development of future bioinspired technology. Image: Lori Eanes © Monterey Bay Aquarium

Innovative technology developed by Principal Engineer Kakani Katija and MBARI’s Bioinspiration Lab brings the lab to the ocean, allowing researchers to visualize the structures and biomechanics of deep-sea animals in their natural habitat.

The Bioinspiration Lab’s imaging systems are transforming how we study marine life. Working with MBARI’s marine operations team, the Bioinspiration Lab will outfit the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Doc Ricketts with two advanced camera systems to document the structures of delicate deep-sea drifters and measure fluid flow and feeding of deep-sea corals.

DeepPIV (particle image velocimetry) projects a sheet of laser light that illuminates objects and particles in the water. The laser scan creates 3D in situ visualizations of the structures of soft-bodied deep-sea organisms. EyeRIS (remote imaging system) is a three-dimensional lightfield (plenoptic) camera system that can capture detailed 3D visual data about the structures and movement of marine life in their natural deep-sea habitats.

During the Movement in the Deep expedition, the Bioinspiration Lab will continue field tests for a new multi-view macro imaging system that combines cameras and lights to capture multiple simultaneous high-resolution perspectives of animals in the lab.

An imaging instrument scans a rope-like deep-sea siphonophore with a sheet of red laser light. The instrument is mounted to a robotic submersible outside of the frame. The instrument is in a silver metal cylinder housing attached to the end of a black metal rod extending from the left corner of the frame. Blue and red cables connect the instrument to the submersible. At the bottom of the frame is a black cylindrical camera housing mounted to the submersible. In the background is dark blue water dotted with scattered white flecks of organic material. — The Bioinspiration Lab has developed advanced imaging systems—such as DeepPIV—that can capture detailed in situ scans of delicate deep-sea animals like this siphonophore (*Apolemia* sp.). Image © MBARI

Images and video reveal the diversity and dynamics of marine life and offer scientists and researchers vital clues for protecting and improving ocean health, but processing this vast amount of visual data is a huge challenge. Engineers in the Bioinspiration Lab are developing tools to help the ocean exploration community tackle the deluge of data and accelerate discovery.

Katija leads the FathomNet Program, applying artificial intelligence to ocean research by connecting programmers, marine scientists, and ocean enthusiasts. FathomVerse is a mobile app developed through FathomNet that aims to grow a library of labeled imagery that can train artificial intelligence to identify marine life. Combining real scientific imagery with interactive gameplay, FathomVerse enlists ocean enthusiasts worldwide to work alongside scientists to help review and label images so AI can accurately recognize ocean animals. Visual data collected during the Movement in the Deep expedition will be added to FathomVerse to help crowd-source training data for FathomNet’s machine learning models.

More About this Expedition

About this expedition:

Development of DeepPIV, EyeRIS, and the FathomNet Program was made possible by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation’s ongoing support of MBARI’s work. Development of EyeRIS is supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Software development for DeepPIV and EyeRIS is supported by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation Ocean Shot Research Grants Program. The FathomNet Program is supported by the US National Science Foundation, NOAA, the National Geographic Society, Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, and Dalio Philanthropies.