Electronic Inflators?

[mxracer19]

What if you could implement a device using a pressure guage and 2 solenoids in a BCD? Using the same system as an air-integrated computer, your computer would transmit its ascent rate data to the unit in your BCD, which would actuate either an input or exaust valve in your bladder. Much like how the computer system in a rebreather works, by measuring oxagen and injecting more or less to richen/lean the breathing mixture, your BCD could do the same, thus always keeping you neutrally bouyant with minimal input.

has anyone ever thought of this?

thanks
-Matt

 

[akscubainst]

Why overcomplicate something that once you get the hang of it is so simple in the first place?

DM

 

[Charlie99]

Someone showed a prototype of something like this a few years ago. It didn't take off commercially. Indeed, even dumb versions of it like the Dacor Airtrim haven't been all that well accepted.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

I agree wih Dave that there is no need to automate what is a simple skill that every diver should know.

Plus doing it automatically would create more opportunity for something to go wrong and the diver's actions could really screw it up and/or the automatic unit could conflict with what a diver wants to do. For example, the BCD wants to bring you up at 30 ft per second, but the diver has 100 psi left and wants to go up faster and is kicking like mad for the surface, increasing the rate of ascent causing the computer to dump the BCD until it is empty, which then causes the computer to fault and return things to manual control which unfortunatley occurs at the same moment the diver is exhausted and out of air.The diver sinks in 300 ft of water, drowns, the widow sues the company making the computer BCD/computer, the compnay loses the law suit, sales plummet, company goes broke, investors lose millions, little old ladies lose their retirement and have to go back to work at 7-11's and circle K's around the country competing for jobs needed by younger people saving up for scuba lessons and equipment which they now can no longer afford and the whole dive industry fails.

Learning proper bouyancy control in the first place is a whole lot easier.

 

[Tavi]

I think you should put some more thought into that!!

 

[Damselfish]

I wouldn't want a BC driving for me.

 

[kidspot]

sort of like "auto-pilot" for divers ... but I like DA Aquamater's little story ...

 

[Diver0001]

What if you could implement a device using a pressure guage and 2 solenoids in a BCD? Using the same system as an air-integrated computer, your computer would transmit its ascent rate data to the unit in your BCD, which would actuate either an input or exaust valve in your bladder. Much like how the computer system in a rebreather works, by measuring oxagen and injecting more or less to richen/lean the breathing mixture, your BCD could do the same, thus always keeping you neutrally bouyant with minimal input.

has anyone ever thought of this?

thanks
-Matt

There were stories about a prototype of this going around a couple of years ago. Personally I think it's a perfect addition to the HUB. That way you have all your bad ideas built into one piece of gear that is easiliy avoided.

R..

 

[Stryker]

DA Aquamaster, you had Me ROLLIN with your comment.... I have to ask, how long did it take for you to come up with all of that? it meshed EVER so well...


now my $0.02.... Another thing I dont think was mentioned is that if it is electronically controlled, you have to think -- what happens if the batteries die during a dive?? then the diver is left with either drowning, or ditching his gear and bolting for the surface, risking severe DCS and losing potentially thousands of dollars in gear...

Point #2 - The biggest problem I see is that the computer would use A LOT more air than a semi-skilled diver.... It would constantly be adding and dumping air, while most divers dont use a whole lot of air unless at the surface...Also there is no way to "re-use" the air so it is gone... SO with that said, the computer would probably cause you to lose a significant amount of bottom time....

Point #3 - This is just one more piece of gear that would have to be serviced once a year (possibly more) since it is a piece of life supporting gear like your regulator.... While the reg is much more important, without a functioning BC there is a substantial risk of drowning (especially if you panic)...

Point #4 - ( Last one I promise), the LP inflators and integrated secondary air sources are relatively low cost compared to something like this. Take what you paid for your 2nd air source (or just an LP inflator hose) and add a couple hundred....



I am not knocking you at all, it seems like a good idea at first but why overcomplicate things? The more hi-tech stuff you have, the less likely you are to use your brain... and that equals "USER ERROR/INJURY/DEATH"....