Evoluzione serie Cochran COMMANDER

Cochran EMC-16H

contro

Commander+ e Commander Nitrox

Le principali differenze tra il nuovissimo "Cochran Commander EMC-16H" ed i suoi predecessori "Commander+" e "Commander Nitrox" entrambi sostituiti. Dove avevamo due prodotti ora abbiamo solo una macchina che vede aumentate in modo significativo le possibilità operative.

Il Cochran Commander EMC-16H è disponibile nelle seguenti configurazioni:

Solo Aria (21% FO2)

Singolo mix Nitrox (21.0% to 49.9% FO2)

Singolo mix FO2 (come sopra) and PO2 (da 0.50 a 1.50 ata PO2)

Due mix Nitrox (dal 21.0% al 49.9% FO2 e dal 21.0% al 99.9% FO2)

Due mix FO2 (come sopra) e PO2 (dal 0.50 al 1.50 ata PO2)

E’disponibile, al momento dell’ordine, un’espansione di memoria; successivamente è possibile effettuare l’upgrade. La memoria standard è di 100 immersioni e di 135 ore di profilo d’immersione (a intervalli di 1 secondo). L’upgrade consente di archiviare fino a 512 immersioni ed oltre 550 ore di profili d’immersione.

Il nuovo " EMC-16H Adaptive Algorithm" di Cochran

Probabilmente la principale differenza è il nuovo "Adaptive Algorithm" della Cochran. Cochran è stata la prima azienda a fornire quello che può essere definito come algoritmo dell’azoto "auto-adattato ai fattori ambientali". Cioè l’algoritmo si auto-adatta reagendo a tutte le possibili caratteristiche diverse legate alle condizioni d’immersione, AUTOMATICAMENTE, IN MODO CONTINUO, senza necessità d’intervento alcuno.

EMC-16H sta per : “Environmental Microbubble Consciousness 16 Halftime Tissue Compartments”.

16 Tessuti campionati con emitempi da 2,5 a 480 minuti.

Cochran Commander EMC-16H contro Commander+

I fattori ambientali rilevati ed inseriti nell’algoritmo sono i seguenti:

Altitudine Barometrica in automatico

Riconoscimento acqua dolce o salata in automatico

Temperatura dell’acqua in automatico

Velocità di risalita (microbubbles) in automatico

Profili per le immersioni ripetitive in automatico

Livello conservativo dell’algoritmo (User Entered)

Frazione percentuale di ossigeno (User Entered)

Pressione parziale di ossigeno (User Entered)

Ad oggi, NESSUN ALTRO DIVE COMPUTER è così “INFORMATO” e così "AUTO-ADATTANTE" ai fattori ambientali ed alle caratteristiche dell’immersione!!! Il nuovo “Adaptive Algorithm” lavora su 16 tessuti e ne considera la saturazione/desaturazione in diversi scenari d’immersione. Il nuovo algoritmo è stato implementato con i più recenti ed accreditati risultati delle ricerche (di Cochran ed altri). Questo significa che oggi puoi avere un tempo di fondo più lungo con un livello di sicurezza maggiore rispetto a qualunque altro computer da immersione o tabella.

Inoltre il vecchio algoritmo aveva dei limiti artificiali che portavano ad un "Gauge Mode" o "blocco" nel caso risultassero superati certi limiti. Il nuovo “EMC-16H Adaptive Algorithm” non ha nessuno di questi limiti. Per esempio, la tappa di decompressione più profonda può partire anche alla stessa profondità max dell’immersione.

Inoltre, il nuovo Commander può essere impostato (sul campo) per operare sia in modalità FO2 che PO2. La modalità FO2 è normalmente impiegata per i sistemi a circuito aperto e per i rebreathers a circuito semichiuso. La modalità PO2 è invece dedicata ai rebreathers a circuito chiuso. Il vantaggio pratico è che il subacqueo può cambiare rapidamente tipologia di apparato utilizzato utilizzando lo stesso computer e senza perdere le informazioni relative alle immersioni precedenti(carico azoto residuo, esposizione ad ossigeno, ecc.). Il nuovo Commander EMC-16H può anche operare in modalità PO2 durante l’immersione e passare automaticamente (a scelta del subacqueo) in modalità FO2 durante la decompressione.

Il nuovo Commander EMC-16H può essere impostato per lavorare anche come I suoi predecessori Commander+ e Commander Nitrox.

Archivio dei dati e dei profili d’immersione

La precedente generazione di Commander archiviava 100 immersioni e 24 ore di profili d’immersione (al livello di dettaglio di 4 secondi). Il livello di dettaglio può essere configurato da 1 a 15 secondi. Consideriamo in ogni caso che le ricerche in tema di formazione di microbolle in fase di risalita attribuiscono valore informativo zero a profili d’immersione se il livello di dettaglio è superiore a 5 secondi. NESSUN ALTRO COMPUTER POTEVA VANTARE UNA CAPACITA’ DI ARCHIVIAZIONE COSI’ ELEVATA!!! Oggi, il nuovo Cochran Commander ha fatto ancora meglio: fino a 512 immersioni archiviate (standard 128); fino a 550 ore di profili d’immersione (standard 100 ore). Il tutto all’intervallo di 1 secondo! Con questo il livello di dettaglio delle informazioni archiviate è stato ulteriormente incrementato. GLI ALTRI COMPUTER NON POSSONO FARE NEANCHE IL 10% DI QUESTO!!!

Cochran Commander EMC-16H contro Commander+ e Commander Nitrox

Inter-dive Events

Nel passato, I computer da immersione archiviavano informazioni solo immediatamente prima, durante ed immediatamente dopo l’immersione. Cochran stabilisce un nuovo standard! Il nuovo Cochran Commander EMC-16H archivia importanti informazioni tra le immersioni anche quando è spento! Tali informazioni possono essere visualizzate tramite Analyst versione 3.07 e successive. Alcuni di questi “Inter-dive Events” sono:

Initializzazione della macchina

Accensione

Variazioni d’altitudine di oltre 150 metri

Batterie scariche

Batterie sostituite

Cattivo funzionamento dei sensori

Analyst PC Communication

Training Mode

Tutti I Dive Computers Cochran hanno quell che viene definito "Post Dive Interval" cioè quell lasso di tempo di 10 minuti che segue la fine dell’immersione. Il Post Dive Interval inizia non appena il subacqueo risale a meno 1 metro di profondità dopo l’immersione. Se il subacqueo torna ad una profondità superiore a 1,5 metri, tale intervallo viene computato come tempo d’immersione. Al contrario se il subacqueo trascorre tale intervallo di tempo (10 minuti) in superficie e poi torna ad immergersi, il computer considera e calcola una immersione ripetitiva.

Il nuovo Commander ha il "Training Mode" cioè un programma acque confinate. Tale modalità risponde all’esigenza dell’istruttore subacqueo di effettuare continue risalite e discese per fini addestrativi durante le sessioni di acque confinate computando il tutto come una singola lunga immersione (intervallo di superficie esteso a 30 minuti; inizio immersione a meno di 1 metro di profondità; fine immersione a meno di 1 metro di profondità, ecc.).

Attraverso l’ Analyst PC Software si possono rivedere le varie fasi della sessione d’addestramento.

Migliorie nell’autonomia delle batterie

Il miglioramento nella sezione Hardware e software ha consentito al reparto studi della Cochran di incrementare significativamente la vita utile delle batterie d’alimentazione dei suoi computer (già le più economiche del settore industriale). Il Cochran Commander vanta un’autonomia di oltre 1000 ore d’immersione o di due anni d’esercizio; il tutto con normali batterie alkaline! L’unità è equipaggiata con 2 batterie alcaline tipo N, sostituibili dall’utente. Consigliate sono le batterie alcaline ma possono essere impiegati anche altri tipi del tipo N.

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Cochran Commander EMC-16H Vs Commander+ and Commander Nitrox

Monitoraggio continuo sui sensori

Il nuovo Cochran Commander controlla contiunuamente (anche da spento) l’integrità dei sensori di profondità e temperatura. Ogni anomalia viene segnalata ed archiviata in memoria per essere visualizzata attraverso Analyst PC software version 3.05 o successiva

Taclite: ulteriori migliorie

Il sistema di retroilluminazione tattica dei computer Cochran oltre ad essere impostato ON o OFF prima dell’immersione, può nella nuova serie essere impostato per attivarsi automaticamente quando il display viene picchiettato (con una mano) per un intervallo di tempo programmabile via Analyst (impostazione standard 10 secondi).Ciò allunga sensibilmente la durata delle batterie ottimizzando l’impiego del sistema TACLITE.

Funzione “sveglia”

Il nuoov Cochran Commander può essere impostato anche come sveglia sull’ora locale senza interferire con le normali funzioni di computer da immersione.

Informazioni proprietario

Al momento dell’acquisto possono essere inserite in macchina le seguenti informazioni:

Dati anagrafici

Telefono, FAX, email, etc

Certification Agency e numero

Dealer e data di acquisto.

Si tratta di informazioni molto importanti ai fini del servizio post-vendita e garanzia.

Factory Defaults

L’unità esce dalla fabbrica con dei settaggi standard. Il subacqueo può modificare a piacimento le informazioni di base della macchina via Analyst. Sempre via Analyst l’unità può essere ri-configurata come da standard.

Cochran and Bikini Atoll

Cochran and Bikini Atoll

This letter is to address your concern about using your Cochran dive computer on Bikini Atoll. The operators there claim that all of our computers used at Bikini have “failed”. We can state categorically and absolutely that this is a lie. Some Bikini divers have sent us their dive computers for us to check after returning from Bikini and NONE of those had failed. Why the dive operators there insist on libeling and slandering us is unknown. However, we are suspicious since they ban just about all brands of dive computers except Nitek, and they only rent Niteks, sounds like a forced market to us. Even though we could not find anything wrong with the dive computers returned to us for checkout, we replaced some with new units so we could keep the ones used at Bikini as evidence.

To demonstrate how wrong Bikini is, here is one independent assessment of our Dive Computers: Some years ago, the U.S. Navy extensively tested their Cochran Dive Computers at the Naval Experimental Diving Unit and followed that up with extensive field testing over several years. As a result, the Navy’s first Cochran Dive Computer was accepted for use by the elite Navy Seals and is being delivered in quantity. The Navy was so impressed with the functionality, quality, and reliability of that product that Cochran was tasked to develop three more Navy Dive Computers for other operational needs. All of these units are now being used by the U.S. Navy. The Cochran Navy units are the ONLY Dive Computers approved for use by the U.S. Navy. Because of our reputation, many Navies in other countries now purchase Cochran Dive Computers. All of our Dive Computers, including recreational and professional, are manufactured in our facility in Texas on the same production lines and to the same quality standards. Cochran is ISO 9001:2000 certified and our products are CE approved.

Regardless of the vitriolic slander from the Bikini operation, please read the following scenarios for some actual dives at Bikini.

BIKINI SCENARIO #1

As in other scenarios, this is from one of our dive computers from Bikini that the dive operators claimed had “Failed”. The Bikini people had ranted and raved about how ALL Cochran dive computers fail, thereby negatively biasing the diver. Upon returning, the diver was concerned about his unit and sent it to us for checkout. We could find absolutely nothing wrong with his unit. He was using an older Cochran unit that had a “Gauge” mode when a deco stop was ignored. (For many years now, our units have not had a “Gauge” mode.) The following information is based on actual uploads from the dive computer that was on Bikini and interviews with the diver.

The diver begins a typical set of repetitive decompression dives at Bikini Atoll. Based on the diver’s information from Bikini, the dives are generally in the 120’ to 160’ range using air (21.0% oxygen) as a bottom blend and a surface supplied decompression blend ranging from 50% to 80% oxygen.

Looking at the dive computer configuration for dive #1, 2, and 3, the diver programs the unit for 10% conservatism. What he has actually done is told the computer to make every calculation 10% more conservative. What will happen during this type of decompression diving profile is that the diver will have reduced bottom time and increased decompression time. Internally, our dive computers will now calculate an additional 10% nitrogen load for each tissue group and this will catch up to the diver later.

The diver also decides to not change the blend #2 setting which is set at 58.0% oxygen even though the boat will provide 69.0% oxygen for decompression on this dive. Why he did this, we do not know, but this will also catch up to the diver later.

Our computers will do what they are programmed to do, but the diver will complain about too much required decompression compared to his buddies unit. His buddies unit does not have the ability to add conservatism. The diver also told the computer the wrong decompression blend.

This has not only caused an increase in decompression time, but the actual residual nitrogen which the computer has calculated the diver absorbed is based on these inputs. From this point on during this “Dive Day” all NDC, Decompression, and tissue loading factors the computer is calculating are very conservative, even though the computer is functioning correctly based on what it was told. During dive #2 and #3 the diver does not change the computer configuration. Unhappy with its performance, the diver still continues to dive the unit. By the end of repetitive decompression dive #3 the computer has calculated so much residual nitrogen, because of the 10% conservatism and incorrect settings of the surface supplied decompression blend, the unit is now asking the diver for significant decompression time. Furthermore, on this older unit, the decompression obligation is displayed using blend #1 oxygen percentage. If the diver had programmed the correct decompression blend the time would have actually dropped faster than the displayed time once he switched to the decompression blend. However, the diver ignores the conservative decompression obligation, caused by incorrect settings, and goes to the surface causing the computer to go into Gauge Mode, because of the violation of a ceiling. This example is not uncommon when divers do not understand or are not willing to take the time to configure the computer correctly for the type of diving planned. The diver complains the unit failed, when in reality the unit performed as it should with the configuration it was given. This will happen with ANY dive computer, even the one brand that is allowed. The Bikini operators were unwilling/unable to assist.

BIKINI SCENARIO #2

As in other scenarios, this is from one of our dive computers from Bikini that the dive operators claimed had “Failed”. Again, the Bikini people had ranted and raved about how ALL Cochran dive computers fail. Upon returning, the diver was concerned about his unit and sent it to us for checkout. Again, we could find absolutely nothing wrong with his unit. The following information is based on actual uploads from the dive computer that was on Bikini and interviews with the diver.

The diver begins a typical set of repetitive decompression dives at Bikini Atoll. Based on the diver’s information from Bikini, the dives are generally in the 120’ to 160’ range using air (21.0% oxygen) as a bottom blend and a surface supplied decompression blend ranging from 50.0% to 72.0% oxygen.

The diver’s complaint was that the unit was operating normally, but during the final ten foot deco stop it “failed”. During the ten foot stop, the unit was displaying a “10” foot deco stop, and the deco time was counting down to zero. According to the diver, the unit suddenly displayed an 85 foot deco stop, and called for many hours of deco time. The diver, inexperienced at decompression diving, and not reading the manual, misread the display. (Hint: the water temperature was 85 degrees at Bikini). When the decompression obligation was fulfilled, the diver should have noticed that the “CEIL”ing legend had changed to “TEMP”erature, and that the “Deco Stop Depth” was actually the water temperature. Furthermore, the deco time had counted down to zero when the decompression obligations was met, and the legend “DEC” had changed to “NDC” when the display went from a small number of minutes (Deco) to a large number of hours and minutes “NDC” time. The diver complains the unit failed, when in reality the unit performed as it should.

Convinced that his dive computer had “failed”, the diver even took underwater photos of the display where one can clearly see the “TEMP” and “NDC” legends. He was chagrinned and embarrassed when it was pointed out to him. The Bikini operators were unwilling/unable to assist.

BIKINI SCENARIO #3

Upon returning from Bikini, a very experienced diver wrote us a letter regarding that operation and his Cochran Gemini he owns and uses. It was a week of diving with up to 12 decompression dives. He had read some negative remarks regarding Cochran computers and diving at Bikini Atoll and contacted us before his trip. His report states “My experience with your [Cochran] technical and customer support staff has been one of the most pleasant of my rather long life. THANK YOU…”

We quote from his report: 
“Bikini Operations: On arrival, we were given a briefing where our general level of training was verified by the Head Dive Master ([name redacted], previously of Dolphin Scuba in Sacramento). He checked our certification cards, and announced that the only certification he personally has any respect for is that of a “Full Cave Diver”. That was rather amusing to me, since there aren’t any caves around here that I know of. He also asked what type of equipment we were using, and noted that those “piece of junk Cochran’s NEVER make it past the 3rd day, and he’d be keeping an eye out for me when it quit”. I find that type of reassurance to be just what someone needs, especially when they’ve paid over $3000 for 12 scuba dives. Oh, well…. Note to Mike [Cochran]…. Did you ever scare this guy’s mother while she was carrying him in her womb?????”

“The other 2 Dive Masters, much younger Americans, seemed to be less doom and gloom about things, but also shared the sentiment that the computers wouldn’t make it. One fellow, [name redacted] ([name redacted] Diving Duds in West Chester Pa.) was very strong in his belief that diving the Cochran computer was pure folly. I found it curious that he would be against new stuff, since I remember diving with his mom about 30 years ago, and she was quite the daredevil.”

“The third Dive Master, [name redacted], seemed to be rather neutral, and stated he didn’t know enough about them to comment one-way or the other, but couldn’t see it causing any problems.”

This diver goes on to report: “In order to ensure safe operation throughout the rest of the trip, I elected to “sit out” your Gemini for the first dive on the 3rd day (the “DAY OF DOOM for the Cochran’s”). My poor old tired [Cochran] computer worked just fine, recording deco stops within 1 to 2 minutes of my dive partner, who was using a pair of Nitek’s (a “3” and a brand new “HE”). This continued throughout the week with us never being more than 5 minutes apart on any stop. I noted that generally the Cochran’s cleared a stop level earlier than the Nitek’s. I would believe this is due to the air data, which is not accessible by the Nitek. The other side of this is that [name redacted] said, “I can’t see any reason why anybody would want to have air data. We certainly don’t need it.”.

Note: This is where we disagree with the diver and Bikini. The Cochran Gemini is an air integrated Dive Computer that accurately measures cylinder pressure and computes gas flow. Based on this information, the Cochran Gemini computes the divers Workload and automatically compensates the Nitrogen Algorithm.

This diver goes on to report: “I returned your Gemini to the operation on the afternoon dive, and noted the appropriate differences between the 2-deco stop requirements. This is to be expected due to the higher nitrogen load recorded by my computer, which was now 1 dive ahead of the demo unit. These differences continued until the 5th day, when they seemed to even out. My dive partner incorrectly set his Nitek-3 to the deco mix of 78% from the surface, which caused the computer to give out continual warnings for high O2 PPO, and then shut down and refuse to work until the next day. I don’t know what the magic is in the hour of 12 midnight, since if you really tried to do 140 feet plus on 78% O2, you’d be long dead by then. With our [Cochran Gemini] gas switching being done automatically, I don’t think it’s possible to have this type of problem with the Gemini??? [He is correct.] Anyway, since he was down one computer, I lent him the demo Gemini to use. He was favorably impressed with the ease of use; given the minimal instruction I gave him. “Hook up the air to the high pressure port. Hang the display on your BC. Do what the computer tells you to do regarding deco stops. It brought him back alive and safe, and with the stops falling within 1-2 minutes of those called for by the Nitek HE.”

“Another of the divers neglected to manually change to his deco mix upon arriving at the “bar”. This resulted in the Nitek thinking he was still breathing air, and leaving him with over an hour of extra decompression. Another problem, which can’t happen with the [Cochran] Gemini.”

“About mid-way through the week, I noticed a peculiar ‘dance’ being performed by all the Nitek divers. Immediately upon returning to the boat, they lined up to use the fresh water hose to wash off their computers. I asked why the concern for the computer, and was told the Nitek sometimes doesn’t know you’re out of the water if there is salt water between the contacts on the face. I thought the computer knew it was on the surface because the pressure/depth indicated it was on the surface??? Just silly of me, I guess. My [Cochran] Gemini only gets rinsed off when I get back to the house/cabin/room, and seems to realize it’s on the surface. I don’t think I’m harming it.” [He is not.]

As a summary, the diver goes on to report: “The Cochran units performed without failure or abnormal indication throughout the entire 12-dive program. My “clearing” and “stop” times were shorter than those of my partner who was using Nitek’s I would expect that due to the air-data being used in the computations. The computer units worked well, with no alteration of parameters by me once on the atoll. Although the deco mix varied between 75 and 79% O2, I left the setting for it at 75%, and did not change it at all. I have supplied the WAN files [from the dive computer] for both units as an attachment to this email, and would appreciate your review and evaluation of them.”

The diver finishes by making some suggestions for the future.

Cochran Undersea Technology Earns ISO 9001:2000 Certification

Cochran Undersea Technology Earns ISO 9001:2000 Certification

Dive computer maker wins new stringent quality management rating

(RICHARDSON, TX)Cochran Undersea Technology, widely regarded as the technology leader among dive computer manufacturers, has earned ISO 9001:2000 certification.

Geneva-based ISO (International Organization for Standardization, www.iso.ch), comprised of 147 member countries, is recognized worldwide as the international arbiter of quality management. ISO certification means that an independent auditor, after an on-site, multi-day, intensive investigation, has verified that a company's processes that influence quality conform to what the international experts consider essential. The objective, according to ISO, is to give the firm's customers confidence that the company is in control of the way it does things.

Cochran, a vertically integrated company, is recognized worldwide as the technology leader in dive computers. Cochran dive computers are built to withstand the toughest environments, yet are simple to use and understand. In addition to the U.S. Navy, a growing number of other nations' armed services have adopted the Cochran dive computers.

Cochran dive products are sold to recreational, technical, commercial, and military customers, worldwide. Cochran produces products for other markets, as well.

Michael Cochran, founder and CEO of Cochran Undersea Technology and holder of more than 60 patents, said, "It is gratifying to receive this objective certification, which further reflects our commitment to quality in all aspects of our business." For more information on Cochran dive computers visit, www.cochran.it

DAN Project Dive Exploration

YOUR DIVE COMPUTER is compatable with the PROJECT DIVE EXPLORATION Cochran Undersea Technology has incorporated in their Windows Analyst software the capability of providing DAN with the diving and dive profile information required for analysis in Project Dive Exploration. You can assist DAN in their mission to support and carry out underwater diving research and education particularly as it relates to the improvement of diving safety, medical treatment and first aid. Once you have downloaded the dive computer you will need to complete all the dive log information. Then display one dive profile and under the printer icon select "export all new dives as a DAN file". This will convert the .wan file to a .cci file. The .cci file is the format we need the data in for analysis. Then email this file as an email attachment to dasdata@dan.duke.edu 48-hours after the end of the dive series or altitude exposure log on to http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/ and complete the online 48-hour report form. The 48-Hour Report is just as important as the dive profile. Please complete the 48-Hour Report so your data may be analyzed. The information contained in the dive log fields are necessary for the analysis of diver characteristic, dive characteristics and dive profile data. We sincerely hope you will come forward and assist DAN in shaping the future of diving safety.

The U.S. Navy Decompression Computer

Article by:

CAPT.  Frank K. Butler, M.D.

Director of Biomedical Research

Naval Special Warfare Command

   Most civilian SCUBA divers have long since added decompression computers (DCs) to their dive bag. Interestingly enough, the U.S. Navy has never approved a DC for its divers to use - until now. This article will review the development and approval of the U.S. Navy DC.

  In 1977, the Navy SEAL community formally requested that the U.S. Navy develop a decompression computer. The SEAL community has played a key role in the advancement of Navy diving techniques in the past. One of the first Americans to use Jacque Cousteau’s new Aqualung in 1948 was Commander Francis Fane, a member of the Navy Underwater Demolition Teams, the forerunner of today’s SEAL's.

In the late 1970s,  SEAL's introduced two innovations to Navy diving. The first was a new closed circuit mixed gas SCUBA that used a microprocessor to control the partial pressure of oxygen. This SCUBA rebreather maintained the oxygen partial pressure at a constant 0.7 ATA, regardless of depth. The other diving innovation was the Dry Deck Shelter - an underwater garage that fits onto the deck of a nuclear submarine to house a small underwater vehicle called an SDV (SEAL delivery vehicle). SEAL's operating  SDV's from a Dry Deck Shelter perform very long (over 8 hours) dives at a variety of depths. Use of the Standard Navy Air Decompression Tables to calculate decompression for this type of diving results in decompression times that are unnecessarily long. As with recreational divers who commonly do multilevel dives, a decompression computer is a far better way to calculate decompression for these dives. In addition, because of the new UBA with its varying nitrogen fraction depending on depth, new tables had to be developed by the Navy to use in the DC.

  The Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) with its unique pressure chambers began the  effort to develop the Navy’s decompression computer in 1978.   Initial studies were aimed at developing a computer algorithm that reflected, as closely as possible, the known science of gas kinetics.  Once the algorithm was established, the Navy set out to test it with a series of dives to be certain that the profiles were indeed safe.  The primary investigator for the development of the new constant oxygen partial pressure tables was Captain Ed Thalmann, the Senior Medical Officer at NEDU. By 1981, CAPT Thalmann had supervised hundreds of experimental dives and completed the development of the new tables. The tables were approved for Navy use and the mathematical model that had produced them was ready to be put into the Navy DC. Prototype computers built in a Navy lab, however, failed because of repeated flooding.  Negotiations were then begun to contract with a commercial DC manufacturer to have the Navy algorithm programmed into a commercial DC, but this effort also failed when the manufacturer’s plant was destroyed in a fire. Another delay occurred when the SEALs decided that their operations would require the ability to breathe both air and mixed-gas on the same dives.  CAPT Thalmann and his colleagues at NEDU then performed a series of experimental dives designed to retest selected schedules from the Standard Navy Air Decompression Tables prior to modifying the nitrox decompression algorithm. The deeper air No-Decompression limits were found to be safe, but dives with very long bottom times were found to have an unacceptably high (up to 30-40%) incidence of decompression sickness.

  After CAPT Thalmann left NEDU, the Navy decompression research effort was continued over the next few years at the Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI). The NMRI team developed an innovative new approach to decompression modeling called the probabilistic model. Whereas the older Haldanian approach used by CAPT Thalmann provides for one single No-D limit or one single safe decompression time for a decompression dive, the NMRI probabilistic model used a statistical approach to calculate a probability of decompression sickness for any no-decompression limit or decompression profile that a diver might choose. The tables chosen could than be tailored to whatever level of risk was acceptable to the diver. This approach showed that the incidence of DCS rises gradually with increasing decompression stress, not suddenly as a single arbitrary threshold is passed. The DC research effort had slowed to a crawl by 1990, when it was energized again by the establishment of the Naval Special Warfare Biomedical Research Program.  The NMRI probabilistic model needed some additional experimental diving to be ready for Navy approval and funding for this effort was obtained from the new SEAL research program.  By 1993, the required diving had been completed and acceptable probabilities of decompression sickness had been agreed upon. The new decompression tables generated by the NMRI probabilistic model were considerably more conservative than the standard Navy air tables in many areas.

  Implementation of the new tables into Navy diving practice was delayed when the ship’s husbandry divers, who maintain and repair Navy ships while they are in their berths, complained that the proposed new tables were too conservative. They noted that there was a marked reduction in the 40-foot No-D limits despite the fact that this limit had been used safely by ship’s husbandry divers for many years. Because of the negative impact that the new tables would have on the ship’s husbandry divers, implementation of the new Navy air tables was suspended indefinitely.

  As a result of this decision, attention was then re-directed by the SEAL community to CAPT Thalmann’s model, which had been used to generate the mixed-gas rebreather tables approved and used by the Navy. This model has the ability to compute decompression for air as well as for a constant partial pressure of oxygen of 0.7 ATA in a nitrox mix. Tables produced by this model result in no-decompression limits that are somewhat more conservative than the current Navy No-D limits in the shallow range, similar in the 60-80 foot range, and less conservative at deeper depths. Like the NMRI probabilistic model, this model becomes much more conservative than the current Navy air tables as total decompression time increases. Very long bottom time profiles may require decompression times 3 or 4 times as long as those found in the Standard Navy Air Tables. 

  The decision was subsequently made by the Navy that the Thalmann decompression algorithm (VVAL18) was the best choice of decompression software to incorporate into a commercial DC. A competitive bid was won by Cochran Consulting Company and the Thalmann algorithm was programmed into the commercially successful Cochran Commander. The first units of the Cochran NAVY decompression computer arrived at NEDU for testing in November of 1996. NEDU testing, now led by CAPT Dave Southerland,  revealed some deficiencies that were corrected, and in January 1998, NEDU declared the Cochran NAVY ready for field testing by the SDV teams.

  SEAL divers in the two SDV teams carried out field-testing in 1998 and 1999. This testing revealed additional items of concern that were corrected. One of the most significant changes was that the DC’s programmable options are now preset at the factory rather than programmed by the individual diver.  This change both made the DC simpler to use and ensured that all DCs were programmed in an identical manner. In addition, the Thalmann decompression algorithm was programmed to assume that the diver is breathing air at 78 FSW and shallower and nitrox  with a constant oxygen partial pressure of 0.7 ATA at 79 feet and deeper. This allows SEAL divers to breathe from either an open-circuit air source (higher decompression stress shallower than 78 feet) or from the mixed gas rebreather (higher decompression stress deeper than 78 feet) and still be assured that he will be safely decompressed. An improved diver training course was also developed and all SEAL divers are tested on their knowledge of the computer prior to use of the Cochran NAVY.

  On 20 October 2000, NEDU recommended approval of the Cochran Navy for SEAL use. On 25 January 2001, the Supervisor of Diving and Salvage for the U.S. Navy authorized the use of this DC by selected SEAL units. The Navy’s first decompression computer dive was conducted by Bravo Platoon of SDV Team One on 31 January 2001 in the waters off of Barber’s Point in Hawaii.

Is the Cochran NAVY suitable for use by sport divers? Since most recreational divers do not routinely make decompression dives, the extra safety incorporated into those areas of the Thalmann tables will not benefit them. The air No-D limits found in the Thalmann model are less conservative than those in most, if not all, other dive computers. Navy divers have, however, used less conservative shallow No-D limits for many years with a very low incidence of decompression sickness. As outlined in CAPT Thalmann’s NEDU Report 8-85, additional testing of the deeper No-D limits in his model resulted in no DCS cases in the 107 experimental dives performed. These trials were performed under worst-case conditions with divers immersed in cold water and exercising strenuously on the bottom. The 3-5 minute safety stop that has become common in recreational diving practice would add a significant measure of safety to these limits. Still, recreational divers should know that the Cochran NAVY is probably the most aggressive dive computer currently in use on No-D profiles. Two other factors lower the decompression risk of the Cochran NAVY as it will be used by SEAL teams. Since the computer assumes that the diver is breathing the gas mix with the highest possible partial pressure of nitrogen for the depth sensed, in many cases, the decompression calculations provided will be much more conservative than those required had the diver’s breathing mix been recorded precisely. In addition, since SEAL diving operations entail multiple divers, all divers decompressing as a group will be decompressed on the DC that displays the longest decompression time, providing an extra measure of safety for the other divers on the profile.

  Approval of the Cochran NAVY heralds the dawn of an exciting new era in Navy diving. Use of the  computer offers the opportunity to accurately capture research-grade data about dive profiles. This data will be collected by NEDU and archived there. It will then be available to the country’s leading decompression researchers (both military and civilian). If and when episodes of decompression sickness occur, the profiles that caused the episodes will have been recorded precisely, rather than having to rely on possibly inaccurate data supplied by the diver.  Clusters of bends cases on similar profiles can then be addressed by revision of the Thalmann algorithm in the targeted areas. NEDU has established a standing oversight panel on decompression computer diving to oversee these efforts and to recommend needed changes to the decompression algorithm or the DC hardware.

Per maggiori informazioni sui Dive Computer della Cochran Undersea Technology clicka qui

Scientists recover North Pole mooring from 2½ miles deep in ocean

Scientists returned last week from the North Pole after recovering 3,500 pounds of instruments and equipment from a mooring anchored to the seafloor for a full year, eight times longer than the only previous mooring at the pole.

The recovery – which involved hauling miles of cable and instruments out of a 4-foot-wide hole in the ice, with three divers in special dry suits standing by in case the mooring became snarled under the ice – was part of this year's North Pole Environmental Observatory camp April 18-28. Led by oceanographer James Morison of the UW's Applied Physics Laboratory, the North Pole Environmental Observatory program is a 5-year, $3.9 million project funded by the National Science Foundation to take the year-round pulse of the Arctic Ocean and learn how the world's northernmost sea helps regulate global climate.

Scientists hope data from instruments on the mooring will help them understand, among other things, changes in the top layer of cold water (28 degrees Fahrenheit) that acts as a barricade against a deeper, but warmer, layer of water capable of causing melting whenever it reaches the underside of the polar ice cap.

That upper, very cold layer grew thinner and warmer in the last decade. That trend is now reverting toward conditions prior to 1990, according to survey work done during the last two years of the North Pole Environmental Observatory program, while the warming is slowly spreading to deeper parts of the Arctic Ocean, Morison says.

In addition to recovering the mooring during this year's camp, polar scientists and engineers installed a new mooring for the coming year. And, as in the past two years, they conducted surveys of water conditions across hundreds of miles and deployed a fleet of sophisticated drifting buoys on the ice. This year one of the buoys carries a camera linked to the Internet so scientists can relate conditions on the ice to readings received via satellite from their instruments. View the images at http://psc.apl.washington.edu/northpole/ or at the NOAA site http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/gallery_np.html. Images are usually updated every six hours although the camera can be used more frequently if needed and can be zoomed.

The North Pole Environmental Observatory program involves researchers and engineers from the University of Washington, NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle, the Army's Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, N.H., Japanese Marine Science and Technology Center in Yokosuka City, Oregon State University and the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.

Fourteen researchers and engineers traveled to the ice. The worst weather, with winds of 30 to 35 miles per hour causing poor visibility, came at the start of the operation and delayed flights to the ice for two days. Most days temperatures were minus 13 to minus 30 F. A few days were sunny, without wind and a balmy minus 5.

The observatory program was staged this year from a privately operated camp, dubbed Borneo, that is established each April near the pole for tourist and commercial enterprises from France, Russia, Canada and Norway. While tourists cross-country skied to the pole and rode hot-air balloons, observatory researchers used the station as the starting point for their various projects. The place where scientists returned to retrieve the mooring, for example, was roughly 60 miles north of Borneo. A smaller base camp, with two 8- by 12-foot tents, was installed there for the work.

As in past years, staging and logistics were possible with the generous cooperation and support from the Canadian Forces Station Alert, part of the Canadian Department of National Defence, as well as the Defence Research Establishment Atlantic.

Click here for supplemental information, images and contacts for the North Pole Environmental Observatory.

The North Pole Environmental Observatory Web site.

Per maggiori informazione sui Cochran Dive Computers clicka qui

The Search for the Invincible

The Search for the Invincible    National Underwater and Marine Association (NUMA), The Texas Navy Association,  and Cochran Undersea Technology partner to find the long lost Flagship of the Republic of Texas Navy.

Engraving of the Texas Navy flagship "Invincible" from Republic of Texas bond.

 In the fall of 1835, with the Mexican Navy blockading Texas ports, the provisional government of Texas responded by issuing Letters of Marque creating privateers to defend Texas waters and the colonist's vital maritime trade.

They also created the first Texas Navy, consisting of four ships, the Invincible, Liberty, Independence and the Brutus. These two fleets made the victory at San Jacinto possible; and they, along with the third fleet, (Second Texas Navy 1839-1845) maintained Texas independence for the next 10 years by controlling the Gulf of Mexico. 

The flagship of the First Texas Navy, the Invincible, was built in Baltimore and arrived in Galveston for duty on January 1, 1836. The Invincible, a Baltimore clipper similar to the US Revenue Cutters, was said to be sharp built and, of course, fast. The Baltimore Tonnage Certificate list the ship as being 83 feet eight inches in length, 21 feet 8 inches in breath, 8 feet 8 inches in depth and weighing almost 7 tons.  Upon her arrival, the Invincible was immediately outfitted with 9 cannon, ranging from four- to six-pounders, to an eighteen-pounder at midship. She then joined her sister Texas Navy ships and the privateers to protect Texas shipping by breaking the blockade and driving the Mexican Navy from Texas waters. But the Invincible, the Navy's finest, was given an additional order - find and destroy the Montezuma, the Mexican Navy's newest and most formidable warship. 

In February 1836, the Invincible was delivering volunteers to Copana Bay for Colonel Fannin's command and continuing the patrolling the Texas coast to engage Mexican ships. On March 6th, the day the Alamo fell, the Invinciblewas in Velasco, having just returned from New Orleans where her weaponry was augmented with two nine-pounders and an additional eighteen-pounder. Within days after the fall of the Alamo, with Mexican eagles and serpents marching in three separate armies across Texas, Captain Jeremiah Brown finally found the Montezuma blockading her own port at the mouth of Rio Grande to keep news of the impeding Mexican invasion from breaking out. TheMontezuma was readying for a 2000 man division invasion of Texas to reinforce Santa Anna's troops when the Invincible engaged her and ran her aground, thwarting the invasion. 

The Invincible then captured the Pockett and took her war supplies to Sam Houston, just as her sister ship, the Liberty, had done a few days before when the Liberty captured the Pelicano.  The Pelicano was laden with barrels of gunpowder hidden in larger barrels of flour. Those supplies, all intended for Santa Anna, and the Twin Sisters delivered by the privateers, bolstered the morale of the army of volunteers so much that they forced Sam Houston to engage the enemy at San Jacinto. Sam Houston had other plans for his army (retreating to the Louisiana border) and but for the victories of the Navy at sea and the assistance of the privateers, the battle probably would not have been fought, and if fought, lost. 

For a time after the battle, Santa Anna was kept prisoner aboard the Invincible for his own safety, and the Texans enjoyed a brief peace. But the war didn't cease (both sides renounced the treaty) and within two months the Mexican Navy sailed into Capano Bay with three ships full of supplies for the Mexican armies that weren't at San Jacinto. All three ships were captured by the Texas Mounted Riflemen, who became known as the Texas Horse Marines. The Texans had bought themselves still more time. 

By the summer of 1836, the plight of the Texans worsened, as more Mexican warships resumed the blockade of Texas ports. The Texas Navy and the privateers continued to battle the Mexican Navy, but they were battling a far superior force. In April 1837 the Independence gallantly fought two larger, more powerful Mexican Navy ships.  She was eventually captured in full sight of many Texans, including the Secretary of Navy, S. Rhodes Fisher, who watched the battle from shore. The Liberty had earlier been captured by New Orleans creditors, leaving the Texas Navy with only two remaining ships, the Invincible and the Brutus. 

Fearing invasion by sea, Sam Houston (now president of the Republic) ordered his Navy to stay in Galveston to protect the city. Navy Secretary S. Rhodes Fisher and his two new captains, Henry L. Thompson (Invincible) and James D. Doylan (Brutus), knew that Houston's order amounted to a strategic disaster, so they decided to defy Houston's orders and take to sea to engage and divert the enemy from Texas waters. The entire fleet, two ships, then began a daring 77 day raid of Mexican port towns and villages. They captured dozens of parogues, at least six Mexican merchant ships, and generally raised enormous havoc and grief in Mexico. Eluding and diverting the larger Mexican Navy, the Invincible and Brutus even went to Isle Megeres and Cozumel for supplies, and R&R, and claimed them for the Republic of Texas. The offensive successfully diverted the Mexican Navy for two and half months by forcing the superior Mexican navy to stay at home to protect their own ports and shipping. 

The Texas Navy returned to Galveston triumphantly on August 26, 1837 with several prize ships. The Brutus towed a prize ship crossing the bar into Galveston Bay, while the larger, heavily laden (with booty) Invincible anchored outside the bay, only to see two Mexican brigs, the Lubardo and the Vencedor del Alamo chasing a Texan supply ship headed for Galveston. That ship, the Sam Houston, successfully made it into the Bay while the Invincible, set her sails, exchanged signals with the distant Brutus in the Navy yard, hoisted her colors and stood out to engage the two larger Mexican warships. In her haste to join the battle, the Brutus slipped her rudder and ran onto the shoal leaving the Invincible to carry on the daylong battle alone. Captain Thompson's own account of the battle says he inflicted great damage on the enemy and fired his guns until they were too hot to fire anymore and then tried to lure the enemy onto the bar only to slip his rudder as he crossed the bar causing the Invincible to run into the shoals. Both darkness and a storm were approaching and the two damaged Mexican brigs set sails for home. The ensuing storm broke up the Invincible and over the next 48 hours she sunk below the water and ultimately below the sand where her nine cannon (possibly more) and a storehouse of other historical artifacts lie today. 

The National Underwater and Marine Association (NUMA) began searching for the Invincible in 1985. That 20 year search has eliminated a large area and resulted in redefining the search area or high probability zone. In 2004 the Texas Navy Association joined NUMA in a joint venture to locate the Invincible. Last year the joint venture completed a Marine Magnetics (Canadian company) magnetometer survey of the new high-probability area which resulted in the discovery of several promising targets. These targets will be surveyed by Innovatum Inc., a Houston-based corporation, which specializes in locating pipelines for oil companies. When completed, the Innovatum survey will enable us to know which of the targets is likely to be the Invincible. Test excavations of the promising target(s) will be conducted using Cochran Undersea Technology DDRs (Dive Data Recorders) and EMC-20H dive computers.    Dive profiles will be recorded using Cochran Analyst software, and posted here as they occur.

Recovery of  artifacts from the flagship of the first Navy of the Republic of Texas is hopefully near at hand. Curation of the Invincible's artifacts will ultimately be at the Texas Navy display at the Texas Sea Port Museum. 

Author Wayne Gronquist is an Admiral in the Texas Navy, a member of the Texas Navy Association Board of Directors, and NUMA Texas Projects Director.

For more informations about Cochran Dive Computers click HERE

FLORIDA DIVE SHOW

Quando trascorri molto tempo in immersione non puoi fare a meno di uno strumento affidabile, semplice e performante. Allora hai solo una scelte: Cochran Undersea Technology.

Se vuoi approfondire visita il sito della

GRAVITY ZERO - Technical Diving Equipment

http://www.gravityzero.it

DEMA SHOW - Cochran Undersea Technology

DEMA SHOW - Cochran Undersea Technology

Se vuoi approfondire visita il sito della
GRAVITY ZERO - Technical Diving Equipment
http://www.gravityzero.it
oppure
http://www.cochran.it

Poster campagna pubblicitaria

COCHRAN EMC 16 mod. 1 FO2

COCHRAN EMC-16 1EANx

COCHRAN EMC-16

vers. 1 EANx

Black

Oggi hai la possibilità di ordinare il tuo Cochran EMC-16 totalmente personalizzato. Distinguiti dalla massa!

Il Cochran EMC-16 è il computer da immersione piu' semplice ed intuitivo da leggere sul mercato persino per un principiante.

L'ergonomia d'uso e' stata uno dei criteri guida nella progettazione.

Tanto semplice da poter essere impiegato appena estratto dalla confezione:

• cifre grandi e facili da leggere e interpretare;


• allarmi acustici chari.

L'intelligenza artificiale del Cochran EMC-16 gestisce comunque ben altro.

Il Cochran EMC-16 ha un algoritmo autoadattante

• al vostro personale stile d'immersione,


• alle condizioni ambientali,


• è facilmente programmabile per consentirvi un elevatissimo grado di personalizzazione.

Inoltre la capacità di memorizzazione dei dati è tanto elevata da rendere il Commander una sorta di "scatola nera" delle vostre immersioni.

Un campionamento dati immersione ad intervalli di 1 secondo rende il Commander una macchina unica per prestazioni.

Ben 16 tessuti campionati (2.5 min - 480 min).

Algoritmo Haldane modificato versione EMC-16 "Environmental Microbubble Consciousness 16 Halftime Tissue Compartments"

Certificazione CE e ISO 9000 completano il quadro di questa fuoriserie dei computer da immersione.

Cochran Undersea Technology Italia

www.cochran.it

distribuito da GRAVITY ZERO - Technical Diving Equipment

www.gravityzero.it

Tecnologia e qualità

TECNOLOGIA E QUALITA'

Per i passati 16 anni la COCHRAN UNDERSEA TECHNOLOGY ha continuato a produrre strumentazioni per immersione con il risultato di aumentare costantemente la qualità e ridurre drasticamente il tasso di difettosità dei computer stessi. Oggi crediamo che la qualità del nostro prodotto sia la più elevata nell'industria subacquea e la percentuale di computer difettosi la più bassa. Negli ultimi 2 anni di produzione abbiamo avuto una percentuale di errore inferiore all' 1%. Sebbene nessuna azienda pubblicamente ne parli, in conversazioni informali, ci siamo confrontati con i nostri concorrenti che ne sono rimasti molto sorpresi.

Ciò è dovuto ad una serie di fattori :

A. La qualità inizia con l'ingegnerizzazione dei prodotti. COCHRAN è l'unico produttore a fare tutto in casa , dal design alla realizzazione. Computer da immersione realizzati da subacquei: questa la nostra caratteristica. Infatti il nostro staff di ricerca e sviluppo si compone di subacquei esperti a diversi livelli: dalla subacquea ricreativa alla subacquea tecnica cioè immersioni profonde, su relitti, in grotta e con vari tipi di miscele respiratorie. Vi sono molti istruttori nello staff. Dall'idea iniziale, hardware, meccanica, software, algoritmi, produzione per il mercato nazionale ed estero e marketing, tutto si svolge all'interno dei nostri avanzatissimi stabilimenti di Richardson in Texas. Questo ci consente di ottimizzare e monitorare costantemente la qualità, le performance ed il costo dei nostri prodotti. Recentemente i nostri stabilimenti sono stati aggiornati con l'aggiunta di altri 3 server di rete ad alta velocità e ben 70 postazioni di lavoro.

B. La qualità continua con i processi di ispezione e produzione, settori in cui abbiamo raggiunto enormi progressi: tempo di realizzazione del prodotto ridotto del 75%; stazioni computerizzate monitorizzano ogni passo di produzione ed ogni prodotto è contrassegnato con un numero di serie.

C. Il controllo di qualità prevede che ogni componente sia ispezionato prima di essere utilizzato. Negli anni abbiamo selezionato i più affidabili fornitori di componentistica. Controlli durante il processo di produzione ci garantiscono che la manodopera sia al di sopra dello standard di qualità richiesto. Le nostre stazioni di controllo sono dotate di microscopio per controllare anche il più piccolo dettaglio. Siamo dotati di: laboratorio chimico, camera iperbarica, simulatore di respirazione e sofisticati strumenti elettronici di controllo.

D. La taratura dei nostri prodotti è la più completa nel mondo dell'industria subacquea. Ogni singolo pezzo è tarato con strumenti di taratura ideati e realizzati in fabbrica. La taratura è ottenuta raggiungendo i valori estremi per temperatura, profondità, ed alta pressione (per le unità aria integrate).

E. Prima della commercializzazione, ogni computer viene testato per 40 immersioni in acqua nella nostra speciale camera iperbarica. Tale test ci garantisce che il computer è correttamente calibrato, solido e funzionante.

F. Ogni prodotto rientrato in fabbrica per qualche difetto è sottoposto ad accurato esame per scoprire le cause del malfunzionamento. Si prendono tutti i provvedimenti del caso per evitare che ciò accada nuovamente. A tal scopo effettuiamo riunioni periodiche per discutere di qualità legata alla produzione con tutto lo staff ; tutti devono essere a conoscenza delle problematiche legate alla produzione.

G. COCHRAN UNDERSEA TECHNOLOGY ha lavorato negli ultimi anni per ottenere la certificazione ISO-9001. Ma certificazione non è in sé sinonimo di qualità se non ci si assicura che il processo produttivo certificato sia ripetibile e costantemente controllato. A tal fine effettuiamo tutta una serie di controlli qualità. I computer COCHRAN sono anche certificati CE e approvati anche dalla Federal Communications Commission.

Se non avete mai avuto occasione di provare personalmente un computer COCHRAN , ora vi invitiamo espressamente a farlo.

Design e tecnica costruttiva della cassa dei computer da immersione.

Ad oggi le tecniche impiegate nella realizzazione dei computer da immersione sono fondamentalmente tre : Air filled, Silicon Gel filled, Oil filled.

A) AIR FILLED (riempiti di aria). Così sono i computer COCHRAN. Essi devono essere strutturalmente solidi dal momento che vengono riempiti di aria alla pressione di 1 atmosfera e che non devono schiacciarsi alla pressione delle alte profondità. Il materiale di realizzazione deve essere insensibile allo stress meccanico provocato dalle escursioni di pressione cui le unità vengono sottoposte durante le immersioni. Questo tipo di realizzazione è molto complesso per una serie di motivi. La cassa del computer deve essere disegnata e concepita per rimanere stagna a lungo (nulla deve penetrare all'interno); il risvolto è che una cassa che risponde a questo requisito è strutturalmente molto solida, ed insensibile allo stress meccanico della pressione idrostatica (e non solo).

B) GEL FILLED (riempiti di gel al silicone). Così sono i computer della Suunto. La cassa è studiata in modo da consentire l'entrata dell'acqua poiché l'elettronica risulta protetta dal gel. Ma il gel trasmette la pressione ai componenti elettronici, che devono essere quindi selezionati per resistere alle alte pressioni. E ciò non è sempre facile. Inoltre il gel può, col tempo, non garantire la tenuta e l'acqua potrebbe venire a contatto con l'elettronica. La riparazione di questo tipo di unità è difficile e costosa poiché implica la rimozione e la sostituzione del gel. Tale tecnica costruttiva garantisce la resistenza del computer in acqua, ma non rende la cassa così solida come quella degli "air filled". Tali unità risultano anche più pesanti.

C) OIL FILLED (riempiti di olio). Così sono i computer della Uwatec. La componentistica elettronica è isolata dall'acqua con olio. La cassa non deve garantire la tenuta alla pressione visto che tale funzione è assolta dall'olio. Le pareti della cassa sono molto sottili. L'olio tuttavia è incomprimibile e come tale trasmette la pressione idrostatica alla componentistica elettronica. Interventi di riparazione risultano difficili e costosi. Tali unità pesano più di quelle "air filled". La cassa di tali computer non è strutturalmente solida come quella degli air filled.

Proprio perché COCHRAN utilizza il metodo Air filled , le casse dei suoi computer sono strutturalmente più solide e possono meglio tollerare gli stress in acqua e fuori. Tutte queste cose non possono essere fatte con altro tipo di tecnica costruttiva.

Il compartimento delle batterie è isolato dal resto dell'elettronica (con eccezione del Captain) ed è realizzato con materiali resistenti alla corrosione.
La lente che protegge il display non va rimossa : è installata in fabbrica con tecnica particolare.
I computer COCHRAN sono disegnati in modo da non avere vie d'acqua create da parti in movimento (come pulsanti, ecc.) protette da guarnizioni che con il tempo possono deteriorarsi. I contatti esterni dei computer COCHRAN sono in acciaio inox e non sono in movimento. Attraverso i contatti metallici il computer COCHRAN interagisce con il subacqueo (programmazione sul campo), con l'Analyst Pc, legge la salinità dell'acqua e queste sono tutte cose che non possono essere realizzate con nessun pulsante. Inoltre la cassa dei COCHRAN non consentendo l'ingresso di acqua, non consente nemmeno l'ingresso di polvere, sabbia o sporcizia in genere.

Controllo di qualità

Attenzione : non fatelo!
I computer Cochran sono garantiti per le normali condizioni d'uso entro i limiti di utilizzo indicati nel manuale.
Questi test sono stati effettuati con l'ausilio di scienziati, cuochi e camionisti.

Tutti questi test sono documentati e archiviati alla Cochran.