SBIR-STTR Award

Out of air situations present a hazard. They can result in a dangerous, emergency ascent, or failure of a diver to reach the surface. A low air pressure, alert (APA) device can provide a valuable margin of safety, but careful design is, required. The device must be effective. In order for the device to be adopted, and success, its ease of use, ergonomics and cost must be attractive in, relationship to the probability and severity of the hazard., This proposal results in a small alert device system of moderate cost. The APA, will be purposely designed as a safety device that serves as a backup, not, replacement, to existing gauges. Featuring strong 360-degree alert light pulses, and sound, it uses its wireless transmission technology to also include a "buddy, alert" for better dive team coordination (conclusion of dive reminder) and a selftest, to confirm operation before a dive., SUMMARY OF

Anticipated Results:
, The Phase I work will start with a test and evaluation of techniques to implement, the APA core function, specifically the pressure switch, wireless transmission,, alert functions and power requirements. Its proceeds to the design and, manufacture of a small number of APA prototypes for field testing by the end of, Phase I. Field test results will guide the Phase 2 design. Phase 2 will, concentrate substantially on the refinement of manufacturing techniques to, provide a streamlined, reliable and cost effective device to NOAA and other, customers

For divers, out of air situations present a particular hazard. They can result in a dangerous emergency ascent, or failure of a diver to reach the surface. A low air pressure alert (APA) device can provide a valuable margin of safety, but careful design is required. In order for the device to be adopted, it must no t only be effective but it must offer ease of use and a streamlined, erogonomic design that does not get in the way. Phase I saw strong progress with the field testing of APA technologies and the design of a full form and function prototype. Phase II will start with thorough lab and ocean testing of the prototype. Following a refinement of the design and reengineering for higher-volume production purposes, a pilot production run of sufficient quantity for field testing and statistic reliability evaluation will be executed. The effort ends with a joint field test of the pilot production units by NOAA and Desert Star staff. Primarily yielding a new capability addressing a specific safety requirement of the NOAA diving program, the APA project will also result in a new device platform upon which Desert Star will base a family of small electronic devices for scientific, commercial, military and advanced recreational divers alike. SUMMARY OF

Anticipated Results:
This proposal addresses the established NOAA diving program requirement for a new safety device to address a specific hazard, and the development and production of that device as specified in the solicitation. APA will also become the starting point for a new family of small and uncomplicated diver science and safety devices or capabilities. This Phase III commercialization effort may for example include a precision acoustic tape measure, an underwater remote control, and a dive safety computer that warns of approaching decompression limit for both a diver and a dive buddy