Divers will soon be able to access a connected device that can track their position in the sea and alert emergency services when they are in danger.
Backed by IoT connectivity and solutions firm Aeris, the new Sharknet device automatically records and transmits the surface position of a diver to their smartphone. The system is expected to launch in May.
Capable of withstanding depths of 500 metres, the tracker’s emergency alert feature sends the user’s position to chosen contacts or emergency services in times of danger.
If a diver is trapped underwater, they can activate the emergency system by tapping the device and sending it to the surface. Thanks to its built-in buoyancy aid, the device should hit the surface quickly and automatically send an emergency signal.
It can also track a diver’s depth profile when they go underwater. Later, they can access this information from the dive history tab within the associated app, and build up a personal profile of their activities, which can be shared with others.
Strong partnership
Aeris is providing connectivity for the device through its IoT Services platform. Sharknet explained that it chose to work with the firm because it not only offers reliable coverage, but also affordable charges.
Sharknet estimates that a tracker would only be used for around six months a year, during the diving season. Aeris has agreed not to charge fees when the devices aren’t in use.
Mohsen Mohseninia, vice president of market development in Europe at Aeris, said that Sharknet demonstrates how the Internet of Things can enhance people’s diving experience.
“We look forward to working with Sharknet over the coming years as they help divers to communicate their adventures in ways they have never been able to before,” he added.
Developing a community
Over the next few months, Sharknet said it plans to create an online community where drivers can share data about their dives and develop relationships with like-minded people.
Maurizio Banfi, CEO of the company, said the aim of the device is to help people “share their love of diving with one another by tracking the location and the depth profiles of their dives and then enabling them to easily share this dive history”.
Banfi added: “Our device must be backed by reliable Internet of Things connectivity. And we need to work with a service provider that can provide this reliable connectivity over multiple locations, as diving takes place worldwide and people can often travel long distances when taking part in a dive.
“For this reason, we are delighted to be working with Aeris, which is renowned for offering reliable global IoT connectivity.”
Internet of Business says
Alongside connected transport, smart cities, and healthtech wearables, safety and emergency response applications have been among the big stories this year. But while drones/unmanned aerial systems tend to grab the headlines, with their ability to detect different types of radiation from the sky, marine applications are numerous. This smart mix of social networking, data gathering, and personal safety for divers certainly reveals the depths of the IoT’s potential.
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