Automatic BCD???

Loose thoughts by Bjorn Landfeldt

A pair of undergrad students presented the outcomes of their thesis work on an automatic BCD in early October at the UNiversity of Auckland (Mechatronics).

The (invention) is a control system for managing ascents and descents of divers using an embedded system and a control loop for the inflation circuit. Apparently, there is also what is known as a cruise control whereby the (pilot) sets desired depth and the circuitry maintains that depth.

To me this sounds like a pretty stupid idea for a number of different reasons such as:

1) Increased reliance on equipment, especially for new divers who might be in a very bad position if the circuitry fails
2) One more point of failure (actually several)
3) Need to bring batteries for the BCD on a dive trip (or do you hook it up to 240V and charge overnight?)
4)Costly circuitry and mechanical control components
5)Completely unnecessary, buoyancy is a necessary skill to learn anyway and it needs to be practiced
6)etc.

I wonder what George Irvine III would say? Unnecessary Crap perhaps!