Teledyne Impulse-PDM, a Teledyne Marine brand, supplied its advanced Omicron optical fiber connectors to BBC Studios for use in their upcoming underwater natural history series, set to air in 2026.
The filming required custom-built camera technology designed to capture unique marine footage from the depths of the Arctic, facilitated by the Rev Ocean’s Aurora ROV.
To capture groundbreaking underwater content BBC Studios and Marine Imagine Technologies designed a deep ocean-rated camera system integrated with a telemetry bottle, the central hub for communications on the submersible.
Teledyne’s Role
During the Arctic expedition, the crew reportedly encountered challenges connecting the camera system to the ROV’s telemetry bottle due to a missing optical fiber connector, critical to establishing communications for the system. Without this essential part, the team faced a significant delay in capturing underwater footage.
BBC Studios reached out from their expedition for support and Teledyne Impulse-PDM rapidly supplied the Omicron 5030/5070 optical connectors, delivering high-performance fiber connectivity in demanding environments.
Suitable for both single-mode and multi-mode operation, Omicron connectors were ideal for the BBC Studios deep-sea application and the stringent requirements of the Aurora ROV system. Despite a tight timeline, Teledyne Impulse-PDM was able to courier the connector to Svalbard, enabling the BBC Studios research crew to proceed with their mission.
Connectivity Solutions for Underwater Communications
Teledyne Impulse-PDM delivers innovative solutions for underwater communications, designing and manufacturing high-reliability electrical and optical interconnection systems for a broad range of harsh environment applications.
The company’s proven products are suitable for the most demanding applications, including oceanographic exploration, defense, offshore energy, medical devices, nuclear systems, and wastewater management.
The BBC production team praised Teledyne Impulse-PDM’s prompt support, stating, “Teledyne’s Omicron connectors were integral to keeping our project on track, and without the Teledyne team’s quick response, we would not have been able to film in time.”
Commenting on the project, Carolyn Jones, Head of Business Operations for Teledyne Impulse-PDM, said, “We’re delighted to support BBC Studios in their quest to capture the world’s natural wonders. Our Omicron connectors are specifically designed to perform reliably in the challenging conditions of deep-sea exploration, and we’re proud that our technology played a role in keeping this extraordinary project on schedule.”
