Augmented Reality Diving Helmets Help US Navy

The US Navy is developing a high-tech diving helmet that has the potential to make underwater missions a lot safer. This new heads-up display system is built into the diver’s helmet and is called the Diver Augmented Vision Display (DAVD).

A Tech Insider report shows a lead engineer of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division wearing and demonstrating the DAVD during a lab simulation.

augmented reality dive helmet sea submarine

DAVD uses Augmented Reality to overlay the diver’s vision with real-time information such as diagrams, images, text messages and videos. This can help with navigation and situational awareness especially when the diver is in low-visibility murky water, for example, by displaying the diver’s topside view and site of the diver’s actual location. Access to real-time operational data helps divers to be safer and more effective due to improved accuracy when navigating towards underwater objects of interest.

A press release by the US Navy reveals that applications of the DAVD HUD could be underwater construction, salvage operations, ship repairs at sea as well as first responders in underwater rescue missions.

The development team is working on a second phase: components are being designed for helmet systems and full-face masks. In-water simulation testing is due to be conducted in October 2016, with further field testing in 2017.

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