Newtsuit

The Newtsuit has fully articulated, rotary joints in the arms and legs. These provide great mobility, while remaining largely unaffected by high pressures.

The Newtsuit is an atmospheric diving suit designed and originally built by Phil Nuytten.^[1]

The suit is used for work on ocean drilling rigs, on pipelines, salvage jobs, photographic surveys, and is standard equipment in many of the world’s navies.^[2]

This aluminum hard suit has fully articulated,^[3] rotary joints in the arms and legs that give the pilot a great range of mobility. These joints operate freely at high pressures. At the time the suit was constructed, it was the first of its kind in this regard. The pilot can control objects and handle tools with manipulator jaws at the ends of the arms. Although the suit is certified to 300 metres, it has been tested to 900 metres.^[4]

The suit operates untethered, with a thruster pack that can be fitted to the suit. This allows mobility in mid-water.^[1] The Newt Suit navigates with foot controls. The left foot provides vertical control, with the right foot providing lateral control.^[3] Other equipment that can be attached includes twin video cameras, colour imaging sonar, and an AMS suit monitor system that transmits information to the surface, such as CO₂, HPO, O₂%, depth, temperature, and cabin pressure.^[3]

Communication is achieved through digital voice/data transmission via water and umbilical cord.^[3]

Specifications

• Length: 162 – 193 cm (5'4" – 6’4")
• Beam: 76 cm (30")
• Weight: 275 kg to 378 kg^[3]
• Weight in water: -2 to -4 kgs ( - 4 to -8 lbs) flying mode^[3]
• Hull: A356 cast aluminum^[3]
• Propulsion: two thruster packs (constant with variable pitch)^[3][3][5]
• Operational depth: 305 m (1000’)^[3] (tested to 900 m^[4])
• Power: two electric 2.25 hp (at 400 Hz) electric motors, supplied by an umbilical cord to the surface ship, 5 hour emergency supply from batteries
• Life support: closed circuit rebreather, (up to 48 hours) with fan powered CO₂, and a back-up emergency rebreather.^[3][1]

Emergency equipment

In the event of an emergency, the suit is equipped with the following:^[3]

• Tether cutter
• 37.5 kHz pinger
• Ballast jettison
• Xenon strobe
• Radio frquency beacon

Exosuit

The newest generation of this type of suit is a powered exoskeleton called the "Exosuit", also designed by Phil Nuytten.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "NewtSuit". Vancouvermaritimemuseum.com. 2011-08-15. http://www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com/page214.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-22. 
2. ^ "About Nuytco - Phil Nuytten". Nuytco.com. http://www.nuytco.com/about/phil.shtml. Retrieved 2011-08-22. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} "Submersible Suits - The Newt Suit". Sub-find.com. http://www.sub-find.com/newt_suit.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-22. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Vancouver, The (2006-08-25). "Business rises to new depths". Canada.com. http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/money/story.html?id=3bd82c72-8565-43c4-83e6-01a818c8ec9c&k=51671. Retrieved 2011-08-22. 
5. ^ http://courses.washington.edu/ocean102/Lex/Lex_09/Lecture2.pdf

External links

• Image and specifications of the Exosuit
• Images of other hard, atmospheric diving suit, including the WASP series
• Hashimoto, A; Takaai, Y; Nakabayashi, K; Ito, A (1996). "Life support system evaluation of the "Newtsuit" (Atmospheric Diving Suit) during a simulated work and rest cycle.". Undersea Hyp Med Journal (Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Annual Scientific Meeting). http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/545. Retrieved 2011-09-21. 
• Image of Canadian astronaut Julie Payette in Newtsuit
• Images