DARPA Develops Dolphin-like Tail For Divers

willatnewscientist writes "Forget flippers, the latest idea from the guys at DARPA is a tail-like prosthetic for divers. The (forward-facing) tail, demonstrated at DARPA Tech 2007, is designed to help a diver maintain a speed of 2 knots for up to 300 metres. 'The unpowered, carbon-fibre structure straps to a diver's shins and is used with a motion that is not unlike the way Patrick Duffy swims in The Man from Atlantis. The design is inspired by the way mammals like Seals and Dolphins swim. I caught this video of Powerswim (3.5 MB .avi) at the DARPATech 2007 gathering in Anaheim, California. It would be nice to grab one and try it out when I next head down to the beach, but unless its designers DEKA (the same people who make the Segway) come up with a budget version, the $500 price-tag is going to keep me firmly in my flippers.'"

Comments

$500 - not a bad price

[Firethorn]

come up with a budget version, the $500 price-tag is going to keep me firmly in my flippers.'"

Personally, I think that a $500 price tag will result in this gaining widespread use, assuming it's as useful as the article states.

Why? People spend more than $500 all the time on bicycles, surfboards, skis, and other athletic equipment all the time. Matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised if all the equipment for your typical diver exceeds $2k. A quick search shows new surfboards costing $300-400.

Worst case, it can be rented out to various tourists at $10/day and pay themselves off in well under a year.