Apple’s iPads are not designed to be submerged in water, but a Navy scientist found a way to use the tablet under the ocean’s surface as part of a recent optics experiment conducted by the Naval Research Lab’s (NRL’s) Oceanography Divison.
Due to the nature of their work at sea, the Navy and Marine Corps constantly work to better understand ocean optics -- or the behavior and properties of light under the sea -- to safely and effectively perform functions such as hunting for undersea mines, engaging in dive operations, and creating models for the performance of anti-submarine activities.
Most of the US military’s interest to date in using tablets like the iPad -- such as with the Army’s online mobile application store and other initiatives -- has been due to their ability to support custom applications and networking capabilities.
Navy researchers drop an iPad attached to a custom-built frame called the "image Measurement Assembly for Subsurface Turbulence, or iMAST" into the ocean near the Bahamas to perform an experiment in ocean optics. (Source: Naval Research Lab)
However, for the NRL’s Bahamas Optical Turbulence Experiment (BOTEX) -- conducted by a team from its Stennis Space Center in collaboration with Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute -- it was the iPad’s LCD screen that made it useful for the military’s needs, according to the NRL.
The team -- led by Dr. Weilin Hou from the NRL-SSC -- set sail off the coast of the Bahamas for an ocean optics experiment aimed at improving undersea visibility. The team’s goal was to obtain field measurements of optical turbulence structures to determine their impact on underwater imaging and the propagation of light beams.
Definitely one of the more out-there uses of the iPad that I've seen to date. Not sure a ruggedized or military version of the iPad is in keeping with Apple's aesthetic design sensibilities, but I suppose there are plenty of groups like this Naval team that will do whatever it takes to retrofit what they see as the right tool for the project at hand.
I'm with you Beth. Much like the experimentalists that hacked Microsoft's Kinect integrated sensor bar and brought them kicking and screaming toward their new product Kinect for Windows, innovators will continue to use what they have on hand to accomplish their tasks. If a $499 iPAD does the trick, I say hooray. Place it in the toolbox along side the duct tape, paperclips, and famous multi-thousand dollar hammers... =]
Once again, we see the advantages of pervasiveness. The story notes that the advantage of the iPad was its ability to support custom applications. Also, "other options were too expensive or would take too long to deliver." The lesson is that success breeds success.
Being a Navy man, I can assure you the Navy WILL find a way. It would be interesting to see a depth ruggedized version for research and/or SEAL team use. Way to go FAU and Harbor Branch!
Great, Navy. I think NASA would have launch several careers and employed a number of research universities - in any event, they would have found a solution.
Interesting use. Try one of the Android phones its cheaper.... Im sure a dozen other handheld phones can do the same.... some smart phones you can even strap to your wrist and pay less. ohh and i dont think you pay for android so yes you can install it in a System-On-Chip and build what ever custom device you want???
Its ok we know all the Apple Zealots are out there promoting iPad... i still say free software is better.... And hardware that can run on free software is even better :)
As an engineering person, I say Yay, using an everyday item which seems to have the flexibility to be used in such an unusual context, - that is what I do for a living, and that is what we all need to do.
In regards ervin, have you really read this article? you cite phones, but it was a tablet, don't let your misplaced loyalty to Bill Gates or "how we always do things" interfere with your problem solving abilities.
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