Light-Weight Atmospheric Diving Suit

The Navy is seeking a new light-weight Atmospheric Diving Suit (ADS) design. This suit must be less than 400 lbs; at this weight a diver will be able to self-propel using his legs and fins. The system must ensure the divers safety at a working depth of 1000 ft of sea-water; protecting the body from the high external pressure at depth, while providing a sustainable 1 ATM internal pressure. Mide in partnership with MIT propose to create a next generation ADS built from three innovative approaches. Firstly, Mide will carefully design a composite outer shell for the ADS. A composite design will reduce the overall weight considerably over current aluminum designs. Secondly, the team will use lessons learned from MIT"s Bio-Suit Mechanical Counter Pressure Space Suit Design. Most notably the concept of"Lines of Non-Extension"(LoNE). The LoNE are lines along the body that do not move during articulation. By creating sub structure along LoNE lines the team can reduce joint complexity to two dimensions, while still allowing full range of motion. Thirdly, Mide will use super-elastic shape memory alloys to enhance the LoNE joint design, allowing the joints added flex while still providing structural rigidity.