Anyone remember the old cartoon from the '80s The Centurions? I used to have a toy of the water dude and immediately thought of that thing.

Linky

Lenz

So I met the guy who invented this. He did so about 30 years ago, tried to sell it to the navy back then they didn't like it so he challenged them to do a trial.

The trial was to be a race between a standard-finned seal and a seal fitted with this thing.They set up a course with 4 buoys at each corner of a a square, one of them was on shore. They had to start on shore, get their fins/this on, swim around the buoys and end up back on shore with their fins off.

The navy decided this wasn't enough and put a man with fins at the three water buoys, so the fins team was running a relay race and the this thing was a single swimmer.

The swimmer using this won by an entire length (one side of the square). So the navy said cool, see ya later. Now they claim to have "developed" it by watching penguins. funny.

Original brochure:
[www.innerspacethrusters.com]

saileng

@Vagabum other than running out of batteries, the obvious reasoning behind this is the fact to any underwater microphones you sound like a fish(or dolphin) not like a...not fish.

mpercy

@Vagabum: This is much quieter.

Empire

@Vagabum: Recreation

mandarin

I do not understand the point of having this when presumably SEALs already have access to the faster propeller pods (like the ones in the Bond movies) that require very little of their own energy/oxygen.

Vagabum

Is that an airplane in your pocket or are you happy to see me?

MikeHinds

I think I will just stick with talking dolphins to save Seaquest.

MooseDesign

Did yous guys at Giz stumble upon a DARPA website or something two DARPA posts this week...Carazy.

novicestar

Aquaman? meh.

I think I'd rather Hawkman.

I s'pose good ol' Supes is out of the question...

ideaman2020

Boring... my DARPA invention wish list would be to get that damn self driving car ready for prime time so I can read or sleep while it drives me to work! Now that's progress!

Maksimir

It looks like they strapped a glider to his legs.

encyclia

The DARPA Cheif? Dead? Must have been a heart attack...

/got nuthin
//Video is needed

DataScream

this news is about a year old...

gazorp

I want darpa to invent solid steal arms like jax from mortal kombat, way cooler.

Jesustron

looks pretty boring without video

Fierock

@saileng: I hope the inventor got this patented, and I hope he sues their stupid ignorant know-nothing retarded idiotic brain-dead backwards thinking asses off and WINS. The military is such an ineptly run (money-wise) program. The big story back in the 70s was the 2000$$ hammer (or something to that effect) but they still do that shit and much much worse. Then when someone comes along with a stellar idea they poo-poo it at first, then after it clearly has beaten all expectations and claims, they sideline the concept only to bring it up 20 years later without giving the original thinker the credit. Priceless.

banmojo

@banmojo: Wow, you are really nervous and wow again, what a curse! Yeahhhh f DARPA.

Palestina

Popular Science wrote about how effective it would be for a Navy Seal but they don't use it already?

stat321

Oh yeah. I love to tie my legs together when I'm underwater. It makes me feel less constrained and free.

gundamsdontkillpeople

@saileng:

I agree, he should sue. Problem with that is (if I'm not mistaken and I don't think I am) the government has to agree to be sued. I know, I know it's ridiculous but it's true (again, I think). Look it up because I'm way too lazy to do so myself.

tdj114

@banmojo: What you seem to be forgetting [or not realizing] is that for patents filed prior to June 1995, the patent is only valid for 17 years...

[After June 1995, the term is extended to 20 years.]

ideaman2020