High frequency radio waves have difficulty penetrating
water. That's why GPS, something that has
revolutionized the way we find our way to places on
land, doesn't work underwater. But Project Ariadna
wants to change all that by combing GPS with inertial
data fusion technology. Their new device takes a GPS
reading at the surface, and then, by means of eleven
independent sensors and an extremely sophisticated
algorithm, provides a diver with turn-by-turn navigation
along a planned route. As a result, a diver will
be able to monitor graphically, in real time, his exact
position and executed route on a map.
Project Ariadna (www.ariadna.tech) is a scientific
project based in Lahti, Finland, with the goal to
develop personal underwater navigation technology. It
intends to give divers access to all the familiar features
of common GPS navigation systems, such as Points of
Interest (POI). The list of POIs in the system enables
divers to plan intriguing routes, even at new dive sites.
It is also possible to add a new POI during a dive to
mark new discoveries, as well as to attach them later
on underwater photos and videos. The equipment will
be available soon, but we don't know the price. The
last hurdle, we are told, is to miniaturize it so that it
can be worn on the wrist. Watch this space!