APA: Air Pressure Alert Device

For divers, out of air situations present a particular hazard. They can result in a dangerous emergency ascent, or failure of a diver to reach the surface. A low air pressure alert (APA) device can provide a valuable margin of safety, but careful design is required. In order for the device to be adopted, it must no t only be effective but it must offer ease of use and a streamlined, erogonomic design that does not get in the way. Phase I saw strong progress with the field testing of APA technologies and the design of a full form and function prototype. Phase II will start with thorough lab and ocean testing of the prototype. Following a refinement of the design and reengineering for higher-volume production purposes, a pilot production run of sufficient quantity for field testing and statistic reliability evaluation will be executed. The effort ends with a joint field test of the pilot production units by NOAA and Desert Star staff. Primarily yielding a new capability addressing a specific safety requirement of the NOAA diving program, the APA project will also result in a new device platform upon which Desert Star will base a family of small electronic devices for scientific, commercial, military and advanced recreational divers alike.