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For diving, there has been some experimental use of hydrogen as a partial replacement for helium in breathing gas mixtures. This obviously increases the risk of
by nradov 7mo ago
For diving, there has been some experimental use of hydrogen as a partial replacement for helium in breathing gas mixtures. This obviously increases the risk of fires and the physiological effects aren't fully understood. But it might eventually be used in commercial, military, and exploration diving for those cases where we need to send humans really deep and using an atmospheric suit isn't an option. Regular sport divers will probably never breathe hydrogen.
https://indepthmag.com/hydrogen-dreamin/ https://indepthmag.com/hydrogen-dreamin/
- snek_case 7mo agoFor divers, we really should be focusing on building better underwater drones. Remove the risk to human life entirely. You don't need AI either, just a remote-controlled machine with a cable that goes up to the surface. I know there is some loss in dexterity with current robot arms, but building more dexterous system seems like it's not an impossible task.
- nradov 7mo agoROVs have already reduced the demand for commercial divers on some types of work. But it's going to take decades (if ever) until they're able to do the full range of human tasks. Some construction work has to be done essentially by feel in near-zero visibility so using an ROV for that would require advanced force feedback mechanisms, maybe imaging sonar and other sensors. Not necessarily impossible, but extraordinarily difficult and extremely expensive with current technology. For sport and exploration divers, going there yourself is kind of the whole point. I'm not interested in watching a video feed from an underwater drone.
- NetMageSCW 7mo agoGet back to me when drones or robots are being used for dangerous things on land, such as skyscraper construction. Until then, realize it is in fact not easy but extremely difficult and expensive.
- NooneAtAll3 7mo agodo regular sport divers breathe helium?
- crote 7mo agoDepends on your definition on "regular", doesn't it? Joe Average on a fish-watching trip in the Bahamas? No, you can go to about 30 meters using regular air or nitrogen-oxygen mixtures. Some technical diving enthusiast planning a 50-stage 20-hour dive to 175 meters, just because the hole is there? Well, you absolutely need some other gas in there, and helium is currently the popular choice.