Smartwatch App Lets Divers Track One Another Underwater
Due to factors such as murky waters and limited peripheral vision, it can be difficult for scuba divers to always know where their companions are. However, a newly developed smartwatch app may soon make this task easier for them.
Developed by a team of scientists at the University of Washington, the software is designed to work with existing waterproof smartwatches like the Garmin Descent and Apple Watch Ultra. GPS is not used because the necessary satellite signals do not travel well through water.
Instead, the app uses the audio signals that are sent and received by a speaker and microphone each dive watch. A minimum of three users is required, one of whom will act as a dive lead. Each person must be within 98 feet (30 meters) of another user.
The Commander watch sends signals in the regular polls that other diver's watches receive. After a fixed delay, each of these other clocks sends a time-stamped response; This answer was received by observing the commander and by all the other divers.
By analyzing the time between sending a response from one watch and receiving it from others, one can determine how far away the divers are from each other and in what lateral direction. Its vertical position can also be determined if the watch can measure depth.
So far, this technology has been tested in lakes and swimming pools, where it has been able to detect divers at a distance of 1.5 metres. It can also be paired with AquaApp, a voice messaging system previously developed by the same team.
"The app can be used with AquaApp together," said Justin Chen, graduate student and team member. “Hey, you are out of bounds. You have to go back.”
Source: University of Washington.
