As a kid, GI Joe taught me that knowing was half the battle. Couple that with mom’s sage “don’t get lost” advice and you’ve got the inspiration for a new head-up-display being developed for the Navy’s team of combat divers.
The goal is to put these troops in the water with improved navigation potential but without inundating them with more equipment. Head-up display units were originally developed for fighter jet pilots, allowing them to track vital plane and positioning data without taking their eyes off of the situation in front of them.
Similarly, the Shadow NAV display will provide divers with compass headings, water depth and other information that will allow for completing mission-essential tasks more quickly and safely. The display also eliminates the need for wearable instruments that can be difficult to read in conditions where the water is too dark.
Created by marine product specialists at James Fisher and Sons, along with the Smart Ship System Design team of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, the device attaches directly to a standard diver’s mask and carries a battery life of over 20 hours between charges.
While specifics on the power and light source specifications are not yet available, designers would be wise to ensure their head-up display doesn’t follow in the tracks of similar unit created for F-35 fighter jet pilots. That specially-designed helmet costs upwards of $400,000, but the LEDs that were selected carry a glitch that hinders nighttime aircraft carrier landings.
The Shadow NAV’s uses could go beyond the Navy, to include commercial salvage diving. A release date has not yet been announced.