DORIS
Deep Ocean Research and Imaging System
the partnership
At Blue Robotics, our mission has always been to make the ocean more accessible by building affordable, high quality tools for marine robotics. We believe that ocean exploration should not be limited by cost or complexity. It should be something anyone with passion and curiosity can pursue.
That is why partnering with Ocean Discovery League felt like such a natural fit. Founded by deep-sea explorer Dr. Katy Croff Bell, ODL is reimagining what it means to explore the deep ocean. Their mission to accelerate deep-ocean exploration by developing accessible systems directly mirrors our own belief that the ocean belongs to everyone.
ODL is developing a strategic approach to expand the area of the seafloor that is explored, mapped, and characterized while reducing expenses by creating lower-cost, easier-to-use tools and technology. At Blue Robotics, we have been on a parallel path developing thrusters, sensors, electronics, and systems, like the BlueROV2 and BlueBoat, to bring professional grade capability within reach of anyone with a desire to explore.
Together, this partnership is not just about technology it is about unlocking the ocean for a broader community of explorers. We are helping create a future where more people, from more places, can see, study, and protect the deep sea.
the project
The Deep Ocean Research & Imaging System (DORIS) is a cutting-edge, low-cost deep sea camera that will revolutionize deep ocean exploration with affordable technology designed for global accessibility. DORIS addresses today’s limitations in deep-sea research, where costly, complex technology restricts exploration to just a handful of nations and researchers. Funded in part by NOAA’s Ocean Technology Transition program, DORIS is developed in partnership with Blue Robotics, leveraging their expertise in designing, prototyping, and manufacturing advanced low-cost deep-sea systems.
DORIS is engineered to dramatically expand deep ocean access with low-cost, user-friendly systems capable of reaching depths of 6,000 meters. At an unprecedented target base price of less than $7,000 per system, DORIS is designed to leverage modularity, allowing users to interchange various operational and sensing modules and enable researchers worldwide at varying levels of capability. Its intuitive design requires no specialized engineering expertise, and each system is supported by a robust graphical user interface that simplifies mission planning and data retrieval. The untethered system is compact enough to be deployed from a small boat.
the design
Each first-generation DORIS system will include:
- Core Module: Integrated navigation, wifi and satellite communication, and data/video logging system.
- Battery Module: 24 hours of continuous deployment and image recording.
- Camera and Lighting Modules: High-resolution 4K video and still imaging capabilities optimized for low-light, deep-sea environments.
- Environmental Sensors: CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) and CO₂/O₂ sensing technologies.
- Drop-Lander Configuration: Release mechanism designed for minimal environmental impact.
Future enhancements and modules include bait arms, buoyancy engines, altimeters, and passive hydrophones and will incorporate user feedback, significantly broadening operational capabilities and applications. The post-processing of visual data can utilize FathomNet—an AI-driven cloud platform co-founded by ODL—where DORIS users can upload video and sensor data for rapid analysis and annotation.
ODL aims to build capacity, offering comprehensive support—from training and resources to operational assistance—to ensure successful deployments for researchers at every stage. DORIS-generated data will allow for exponentially more deep-sea visual observations and fill crucial gaps, encourage large-scale collaboration, and enable cost-effective, scalable observations and surveys.
the future
Following user feedback and refinement of the first-generation system, we plan to help ODL commercialize DORIS by developing second-generation systems equipped with additional modules to maximize global research impact. By 2027-2028, ODL’s goal is to scale production substantially, leveraging our supply chain and high-volume manufacturing capability to provide DORIS systems at low cost to paying customers and subsidized researchers worldwide. By expanding access to the deep ocean, DORIS will dramatically accelerate the exploration and understanding of our ocean.