Tritech Wins Nation Wide “Lost Diver” Competition
Tritech International based in Westhill, has won a national competition organised by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC).
The DiveTrack competition, set up in memory of Penny Glover who died in a tragic accident, challenged engineers to design and create a tracking device for divers who get into difficulties at sea.
The team designed and manufactured a transceiver device shaped in the form of a small torch to be carried by divers, which communicates with a surface unit via a submersible cable mounted transducer. This enables the diver to be located at all times and also sends emergency signals to the surface to alert boat crew to problems underwater.
Tritech International collaborated with Newcastle University to design this hardware. Of the four finalists, it was only the Tritech – Newcastle University team which completed all the tests successfully.
BSAC divers, led by their national expedition officer, Andy Hunt, successfully tested the Tritech/NU prototype in real diving conditions in Ardmucknish Bay and Loch Etive near Oban, Scotland.
Richard Marsh, Managing Director of Tritech says that he is confident that, in the near future, the company will bring an easily affordable product to market which will significantly improve diver safety worldwide. He also hopes to continue collaboration with BSAC divers in the design and testing of such products. The fundamental technology would support future developments such as simple text messaging and telemetry of diver health or gas data.
Richard Marsh adds, “The Dive Track system is expected to be equally in demand for lost ROVs and AUVs”.
Colin Foote of the IET Young Members’ Board said; “It has been a pleasure to help support the DiveTrack competition with BSAC. The IET is delighted to recognise the innovation and achievement of the Tritech/NU team. Their product holds great promise for improving diver safety and illustrates how well engineering and technology can benefit us in all areas of life”.
There are plans for the device to be on display at the Birmingham Dive Show this weekend and at the BSAC Diving Officers Conference in December. The Tritech/NU team will be presented with a prize of £5,000 at the Inaugural IET Ambition Awards ceremony in London on 13 November 2007.
