SCUBA - Dive computer
Binghamton University Watson school of engineering - Capstone Design Award winner (May 2021)
Click the button below to view an article, published by Binghamton University, on our project!
The SCUBA project is my 2020-2021 academic year project. My team and I, set out to create a dive computer that detects the onset of nitrogen narcosis. Nitrogen narcosis is a reversible alteration of consciousness that occurs while deep sea diving. The effects of narcosis are similar to the effects of alcohol; a decreased cognitive ability.
Our goal is to have a dive computer that can detect narcosis and alert the diver along with the diver’s partner. Currently, there is no other device that can detect narcosis. My team is comprised of 6 team members, of which 5 members are bio-medical engineering majors. Since I am the only computer science major on the team, I am responsible for all software (and some hardware) of the dive computer.
My job on this team is to create the software that will drive the microcontroller. We chose to work with an Arduino Nano so most of my work was done on C.
Initial system design
System design - Exploded view
System Design:
After thorough research we found that the best indication of narcosis can be found by a Critical Flicker Fusion Frequency (CFFF) test via a blinking light. The pressure sensor decides when said test will be deployed. Once the test is deployed, the LED blinks at a certain frequency. The frequency gradually increases/decreases and the user has to provide a button input when the user feels that the LED has either gone from a blinking-to-constant state, or a constant-to-blinking state. This frequency decides the cognitive ability of the user.
If the CFFF test detects the effects of nitrogen narcosis, the system will alert the diver and the diver's partner. The system communicates via an acoustic transducer. Since the effects of narcosis can be reversed by decreasing the environment’s pressure, the diver will be instructed to ascend a couple of feet.
Base model
3D printed casing
Final product
PCB circuit
FEA analysis
System design
Code and logic
Code for device
Click the image on the left to view full code
Logic for the system
SCUBA - Demo video
Demo
Click the video on the left to see the video demonstration that we presented to the Binghamton University Watson school of engineering.
Our team finished the initial design of the project and further tested, furbish and perfected our product. We submitted our final product to the school and received the best capstone design award.
Click on the image on the right to see a detailed report of our project.
Final design paper link