A diving simulator has been created at MIT - video

Not so long ago, we reported on an underwater microscope created by engineers from MIT. The device is to allow studying coral reefs in their natural environment to a degree which has not been possible so far. However, as it turns out, this is not the only project related to diving, which was developed by a scientific team from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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Today we will try to present a diving simulator designed by American scientists. The device is intended to provide sensations that are not unfamiliar to most of you reading this text. The difference is that what is reality for us, will now be available to everyone as a virtual experience.

So, depending on what sequence the programmers serve us, we will be able to marvel at the colourful reef and its lush life, dive into the recesses of wrecks or caves or… actually, as it happens in the virtual world, we will be limited only by the imagination of its creators.

As for the device itself, it is called the Amphibian SCUBA Diving Simulator. What distinguishes it from other simulators is the complexity of the offered sensations. Apart from the sense of sight or hearing, Amphibian also allows us to feel the moment of floating in the depths.

Thanks to a system of belts, harnesses and a special platform, everyone using the simulator will also be able to experience the specifics of moving underwater. A set of sensors and various systems will provide a very realistic experience in the subject of changes in buoyancy, and even the perceived temperature or pressure during changes in depth!

This is complemented by gloves that allow the user to interact with the environment by touching and, for example, picking up various objects and objects.

One thing is indisputable – nothing can replace the sensations and pleasures of diving. This does not mean, however, that the invention of engineers from MIT is not needed. There will certainly be a number of applications for it, including one of the most important – the promotion of diving. After all, it is much easier to use a simulator than to put on an entire aqualung and enter the water with an instructor.

However, the excitement and emotion that a virtual visit to the underwater world can provide will certainly encourage you to go for a real trip and dive under the surface of the water.

However, the assumptions of Amphibian’s creators regarding its purpose were different. The idea was to open the door to the underwater world for people who, due to their physical or mental limitations, could not try diving in the real world.

The simulator’s creator, Dhruv Jain, is partially deaf. While creating Amphibian, he wanted to let people experience the liberating feeling he experienced while diving underwater. On the other side of the surface, we cannot rely on part of our senses and our body’s capabilities. This allows us to feel at our best, which leads to a sense of well-being and can provide a peace of mind that is hard to find on the surface.

It has been known for a long time that diving has a sensational effect on the rehabilitation of various ailments. Surely, a high-end simulator is able to reflect at least some of these stimuli and provide a great experience for its users.

“I wanted to try scuba diving, but it wasn’t possible because of my panicky fear of water. I had to overcome it first and learn to swim. Amphibian proved to be a compromise and a small step in the right direction,” – says Misha Sra – a member of the team working on the simulator.

Source: news.mit.edu