WASHINGTON -- NAVSEA’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV/00C) demonstrated two new and innovative technologies at the Washington Navy Yard, Dec. 8-9.
The systems, the Diver Augmented Vision Display (DAVD) and the Multiple Occupant Flexible Recompression Chamber (MOFRC), will improve safety and expand the Navy diver’s capabilities.
DAVD
The DAVD system provides enhanced situational awareness and efficiency for divers, particularly in limited visibility conditions.
DAVD incorporates a transparent heads-up display (HUD) technology readily adapted to current U.S. Navy Diving Helmets. The system utilizes sonar and high-resolution optical display technology to provide high-resolution data and imagery to the diver.
“With the DAVD system, our divers can safely and effectively work underwater in low and no visibility conditions with the assistance of high-resolution imagery provided by integrated sonar systems and technical data sources.” said SUPSALV’s Commander Capt. Jay Young.
The DAVD system also includes two-way communication and the ability to transfer digital information to the HUD. The DAVD is being developed and fielded through generational updates as technology advances and will allow:
- In-helmet viewing of photographs and SONAR snippets
- Real time display of critical data to include azimuth heading, current depth, max depth, breathing gas remaining, bottom time and time elapsed
- High resolution SONAR imagery of the surrounding area
- Imagery-assisted underwater navigation and obstacle avoidance
- 1st and 3rd person viewing capability utilizing the CODA Octopus 3D SONAR
- Three dimensional augmentation and mixed reality displays in low visibility conditions
“DAVD is a game changer. It allows us to safely and efficiently get to and from a project and maximizes productivity during bottom time,” said Master Chief Master Diver Joshua Dumke. “This system coming from generation one to generation two is almost limitless with what we can do. It is not just a salvage and diving or ship’s husbandry device, but it has applications for other missions including underwater explosive ordnance disposal, naval special operations and shipboard firefighting.”
The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC Panama City) initially developed the DAVD system in concert with Navy and Industry partners. Through an Office of Naval Research (ONR), SUPSALV and OPNAV N97 Technology Transition Agreement and Future Navy Capability designator, the program will work to develop a generation 2 and 3 capabilities in Fiscal Years (FY) 2020-2023.
Multiple Occupant Flexible Recompression Chamber (MOFRC)
The MOFRC is a lightweight, highly mobile recompression system that will accommodate two divers and one tender.
“MOFRC gives us another tool for the expeditionary forces in a lighter recompression package that is easier to move around in theater,” said Master Chief Master Diver John Hopkins. “The current budget has us acquiring six low-rate production models with first one being delivered next year.”
The MOFRC displayed at the Navy Yard was a prototype model.
According to Hopkins, the chamber fits into six containers, with the heaviest container being 470 lbs. The total system is approximately 1,000 pounds less that the lightest recompression chamber currently in service. MOFRC is can be transported over land, by sea or via commercial and military aircraft on a single standard aircraft cargo pallet, which reduces the current load plan by 50 percent.
“It gets down to having our own mobile recompression chamber. This is a system monitored by our own U.S. Navy personnel. With MOFRC, we have greater flexibility to bring our own chamber to whatever theater we are working in and use Navy certified–equipment, personnel, and treatment protocols. It short, it makes us self-sufficient even in the most remote areas we work. ” said Capt. Thomas Murphy, Supervisor of Diving (00C3B).
“DAVD and MOFRC are great examples of how we have used ONR funds to successfully transition new, game-changing, technologies through development and into acquisition,” said SUPSALV’s Director of Ocean Engineering Michael Dean. “The costs associated with the design and fielding are not huge, but the impact on our ability to expand our capabilities is enormous,” concluded Dean.