Researchers at the U.S. Navy are creating a diving helmet for the future.

The Iron Man esque helmet — called "DAVD" (Divers Augmented Vision Display) — is described as "a high-resolution, see-through head-up display (HUD) embedded directly inside of a diving helmet."

Divers will be able to have "real-time visual display of everything," according to the Navy's news release.

That includes sector sonar (real-time topside view of the diver's location and dive site), text messages, diagrams, photographs and even augmented reality videos.

Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) lead engineer/senior electrical engineer William Hughes III demonstrates the Divers Augmented Vision Display (DVAD) during a lab simulation Image: us navy

The point is to place information right in front of the divers' eyes, similar to a point-of-view video game display.

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"You have everything you visually need right there within the helmet."

"By building this HUD directly inside the dive helmet instead of attaching a display on the outside, it can provide a capability similar to something from an 'Ironman' movie," Underwater Systems Development Project Engineer Dennis Gallagher said in a statement. "You have everything you visually need right there within the helmet."

Researchers said the device, which is a prototype right now, can be used for diving missions (ship husbandry, underwater construction, and salvage operations). Eventually, the goal is to have it also be utilized by first responders and the commercial diving community.

Gallagher and his team collaborated with, and demonstrated the system to more than 20 divers from various commands so far.

Next up is phase two, which entails designing components to include both helmet systems and full face masks.

Divers are scheduled to conduct in-water simulation testing in October.

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