MBARI engineers are creating innovative technologies to visualize marine life in exciting new ways. The EyeRIS camera system—developed by MBARI’s Bioinspiration Lab with support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation—collects near real-time three-dimensional visual data about the structure and biomechanics of ocean animals with a single camera and lens.
MBARI researchers used EyeRIS to observe deep-sea pearl octopus (Muusoctopus robustus), tracking the movements of specific points on an octopus’s arm. They found that pearl octopus use temporary muscular joints that yield simple, but sophisticated, control of their arms while crawling over the rugged seafloor.
EyeRIS is a game-changer for studying the biomechanics of marine animals in their natural environments, providing important insights that can open the door to designing exciting new bioinspired technologies in the future.
Research Publication:
Katija, K., C.L. Huffard, P.L.D. Roberts, J. Daniels, J. Erickson, D. Klimov, H. Ruhl, and A.D. Sherman. 2025. In situ light-field imaging of octopus locomotion reveals simplified control. Nature, 646: 865–871. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09379-z