The Future of Smart Dive Packages

The Blue Economy is poised to continue and accelerate its growth in 2023 and beyond. This will be driven by growth in sustainable production and harvesting of food, expanded investment in offshore wind and related renewable energy approaches, predicted high intensity and frequency of storms, the return of favorable economics for offshore oil/gas investment, and the continued need for preparedness for a changing risk environment related to marine conflicts.

The continued growth of the Blue Economy requires continued advancement in technologies to support and catalyze the growth of these end markets. Some macro technology trends will contribute to the needed technologies and the following are a few examples of relevant technology trends that will be further elaborated with example of solutions that enhance the safety, efficiency, and flexibility of approach to carrying out important tasks in the marine environment.

Smart Devices: Smart technologies in the area of sensing and control will continue to impact the marine working environment. This will include opportunities for significant improvements in what may have been considered very traditional products.

New Materials: New materials are constantly being developed and after an incubation period the news materials enable the development of creative new solutions that were previously difficult to manifest. We are particularly focused on new fabric technologies and the transition of additive manufacturing from a pure prototyping capability to a viable solution for low run parts manufacture.

Autonomous/unmanned vehicles and support systems: The past decade has seen a rapid development of unmanned and autonomous solutions on the land and in the air. In addition, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) have had an important impact on work underwater. The marine environment creates some unique demands particularly with regard to support systems. Full realization of the opportunities for impact of autonomous/unmanned vehicles will be supported by new launch and retrieval systems that can be transported and deployed easily from a greater variety of platform vessels.

SMART DIVE PACKAGES

Subsalve has long been know as the leading innovator in buoyancy solutions for the myriad of different marine challenges from mine retrieval to salvage operations, and cable and pipeline construction to offshore drilling/platform maintenance.

With a diverse and established product line, most dive teams are very familiar with the conventional use of Subsalve lift bags to carry out a wide variety of tasks safely. Motivated by needs expressed by military customers, Subsalve—in collaboration with several key strategic partners—has developed and deployed smart packages to enhance the safety and efficiency of using lift bags in challenging dive operations.

The Buoyancy Control systems can actuate lift bags in a variety of modes including by acoustic signal. In addition, with advanced sensor and communications technologies the systems can rapidly and actively monitor position of the object in the water column enabling autonomous or manual control of ascent or decent in wired or wireless modes.

FUSING MATERIALS

Subsalve and their sister company AEF have also been actively involved in delivering innovative products based on high strength and three-dimensional weave fabrics, including industrial grade drop-stitch fabric. A single modular work platform kit can provide a configurable 150ft2 work surface with 3000 lb of buoyancy that divers can easily carry to and rapidly deploy at the worksite.

Using combinations of new and conventional materials we have delivered a variety of docking solutions and capture systems that facilitate the launch and retrieval of many different objects.

The Blue Economy will be a continuing driver of economic growth, jobs, and innovation. We look forward to continuing to deliver enabling products to support that growth.

For more information, visit: www.subsalve.com.

This feature originally appeared in Ocean News & Technology's Magazine December 2022 edition. To read more, access the magazine here.