Military, public safety and science divers conduct operations in what can be one of the most inhospitable environments on the planet characterized by extreme temperature, pressure, and extremely poor visibility. Handheld displays and gauges can be virtually useless in an environment frequently characterized by zero visibility, and this has been a serious limitation to underwater manned diving operations [1]. Waveguide optical display technology has the potential to radically transform diver visual display systems by enabling the diver's face mask itself to become a see-through head-up display, similar to something from an Iron Man or Star Trek movie. Under a recent international government sponsored program, the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) developed a concept prototype binocular see-through head-up display inside a diver's full face mask using waveguide optical display technology. This paper will describe diver visual display systems, waveguide optical display technology, development of the concept prototype, results of diver evaluations, and recommendations for follow-on research and development.
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