SMART BCD

The scuba diver’s buoyancy control device (BCD) protecting their ascent in an emergency situation.

Designed while attending SJSU.

Diving can be thrilling but also dangerous. Specifically, deep sea divers and professional shipwreck photographers are usually trained and prepared but despite experience, risk is always involved. The loss of mental or physical function and control in the water can be caused by many different reasons and if that happens, an uncontrolled ascent may occur. In the worst case scenario, that could lead to death especially from deep depths. This Smart BCD prevents that from happening by controlling one’s ascent even if the diver loses the ability to control it themselves.

“Common factors associated with diving fatalities included running out of gas, entrapment or entanglement, buoyancy control, equipment misuse, rough water and **emergency ascent.**”
-"Recreational Diving Fatalities.” *Divers Alert Network,* 2010
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“The emergency decompression rules are easy to memorize, but in an emergency situation, it is quite likely that **a diver’s memory may not be functioning at full capacity**.”
- “Emergency Decompression Guidelines.” *ThoughtCo*., 2017

process

Prompt

The class topic was survival. If the survival gear brand, UST, were to launch a new product, what would it be, who would use it, how would it work, in what situation would it help one survive and who would they partner with if they were to expand their current brand interests?