Researchers at the U.S. Navy have created a high-tech, in-helmet display for divers in the service that looks like something out of “Iron Man” – perhaps one of Stark’s early prototypes.
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That’s what makes Gallagher compare it to the AR display used by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in the Iron Man films; he says the display has “everything you visually need” for whatever objective the helmet may be used for. The device called Divers Augmented Vision Display (DAVID) is presented on U.S. Navy’s website.
Lab simulation view of an augmented reality image of an airplane through the Divers Augmented Vision Display. The system provides divers with everything from their location to diagrams, and even text messages.
“Having real-time operational data enables [divers] to be more effective and safe in their missions-providing expanded situational awareness and increased accuracy in navigating to a target such as a ship, downed aircraft, or other objects of interest”.
The team imagines all sorts of underwater uses for the diving helmet display, including activities like maintaining and repairing ships, constructing things underwater, and recovering lost or sunken materials. Eventually, it could also potentially be used by first responders and commercial divers. DAVD could potentially overlay muddy waters with a real-time map created by miniaturized high-resolution sonar.
While augmented reality (AR) displays are nothing new to the military, as they’ve used these displays for decades (particularly in the form of heads-up displays (HUDs) in the cockpits of aircrafts and more recently integrated into helmets), this technology is now evolving further with the development of an underwater augmented reality helmet.
Divers will be able to have “real-time visual display of everything”, according to the Navy’s news release.
Gallagher and his team at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division have completed the first phase of development of the Divers Augmented Vision Display (DAVD) after collaborating with more than 20 divers. “By having this type of positive on-the-spot feedback, you know you’re going down the right road”.
Next up is phase two, which entails designing components to include both helmet systems and full face masks.
Divers are scheduled to conduct in-water simulation testing in October.
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According to the Navy, the display is still in the midst of testing, and Gallagher and his team are now working on “phase two”, which involves additional helmet systems and full face masks.
