Students trial computerised buoyancy device for divers

University of Auckland students have designed a computerised system to help automatically manage buoyancy for scuba divers.

Engineering department students Anatoly Kudryashov and Jenny Xu said the prototype, called an Electronic Dive Buddy, had been tested in a pool and the next step was to look at marketing it.

Mr Kudryashov said the unit attached to buoyancy jackets and monitored the diver's motion while underwater.

It automatically adjusted buoyancy if an unsafe depth or velocity was reached, and had a cruise control feature allowing divers to automatically maintain a desired depth.

"Our tests so far have proven the device to work, so the next step is to look at its marketability. As far as I know, a device like this does not exist," Mr Kudryashov said...[3news.co.nz]