Creating a dive computer with Location and Communications

[NAM001]

The computers in that price range that I had in mind include the Perdix AI, G2, Suunto Core, Mares Genius and a few others. If they can add some communication/ navigation function it would compete with these.

I dont think so for the reason i stated. in my last post. In my limited knowlege (haha) in order for it to work you have to have a stable platform to put this on. that means the tank or torso. the tank does not follow the hands and arms. using a device like the compass function in the models you mentioned is one input the other is speed in that direction which can be obtained by motion speed sensors . with those 2 inputs you can get a relative position that will be what is called dead reckoning. perfect conditions no currents. Then with a program you can see the start and where you are in relation to the start point. whamo you can find your way back. Now you have 2 devices to keep water tight instead of one device on your arm. One device system on the arm will not work because the direction of motion is changed every time you reorient the sensor like moving your arm. I am sure there are systems out there because I do not follow the technology. However I do understand the problems with gettng a viable solution. Again if any one has some links to a device that does not rely on external transmitters, I would like to see them.

 

[dmaziuk]

ISTR Ratio having a full IMU and logging its readings... You can read the logs and knock yourself out trying to reconstruct the trajectories.

 

[NAM001]

ISTR Ratio having a full IMU and logging its readings... You can read the logs and knock yourself out trying to reconstruct the trajectories.

give me a link

 

[dmaziuk]

No link. Accelerometer w/ pitch and roll is on the glossy ix3m "feechoorz" page but I don't see anything about logging anywhere. ISTR wrong or at least not entirely correct it seems.

 

[NAM001]

I would agree a gadget like this as a stand alone would be great to get you to any past general area. Leave the boat,, roam all you want then head back to the start of the recorded track . a compass and a single or dual Accelerometer would be a functional first version. and not all that expensive.

 

[Manjula Ellepola]

Diver communication is an Achilles heel of scuba diving. We all know how easy it is to get separated and a diver gets lost. And the accident reports that involve this are just the tip of an iceberg. So yes, a practical communication-navigation device priced reasonably would be a go. In fact I believe that in the next few years that will be the next scuba breakthrough.

I agree with you regarding the scuba breakthrough. One negative factor for us when we looked at this development was the feedback we were getting regarding price. Even though these days people fork out 1k+ for a nice dive computer without too much trouble even if the one they got does the job.
As a ball park, what percentage of people dive with SW and other high end DCs (1k+) compared to run of the mill DCs?
If there is strong enough need in the audience then such a device will get developed. On balance the feedback we were getting from SB was more on the negative side, price being one factor. Ultimately the biggest question a manufacturer needs to answer is, if all the risk of solving an almost impossible problem is worth it if the majority of the audience is less than keen? Should we revisit this problem?

 

[dmaziuk]

As a ball park, what percentage of people dive with SW and other high end DCs (1k+) compared to run of the mill DCs?

SB is very heavily Shearwater-biased, expect large percentage of responders here to dive $1K birdixes. On Caribbean boats OTOH I mostly see zoops and gekkos and an occasional vyper.

But then again, people splashing around in a 30C temp/30M vis blue water on a Caribbean reef with a divemaster are probably not your target demographic anyway.

 

[dmaziuk]

I would agree a gadget like this as a stand alone would be great to get you to any past general area. Leave the boat,, roam all you want then head back to the start of the recorded track . a compass and a single or dual Accelerometer would be a functional first version. and not all that expensive.

I would worry about the battery.

$60-ish for raspberry pi, $40 for the IMU, you need to have someone with CNC mill to cut the body plus some CAD-fu to design it. And a pressure pot for testing. Maybe not a high school project, but 1st year college for sure.

 

[Hatul]

I wonder how submarines that stay deep for long periods of time navigate. They use sonar to avoid objects but how to navigate?

 

[stuartv]

I wonder how submarines that stay deep for long periods of time navigate. They use sonar to avoid objects but how to navigate?

They have room, power, and the budget for things that us recreational divers do not.