Here are my thoughts on several posts
-Compression due to depth of a carbon/epoxy composite tank should not be a problem. Compression properties are well known due to a high level of testing. Compression is a matrix (resin) dominated property and buckling critical for the fiber, so everybody tests for it.
-A thin, heated suit is something to look into. Power and suit heat loss are the problems.
-Personally formed backplate. This could be done by making a cast and then doing a "wet lay-up" composite plate. You could even make a reliable one in your garage. Problems are that it is expensive and so custom that it has low resale value.
-Solar panels. Nice if you are surface swimming and outside on shore a lot. They won't collect much as you submerge. They also won't have the best position for sunlight. I think a car charger might be more useful.
-luminescent stripes could be experimented with by buying some at Wal-Mart and taking them down to see if you can see them very well. I'm not sure they will be very visible, but I may have to try this myself. I have an underwater pulsing strobe I strap to my leg for the same purpose.
-Conformal tank. Engineers don't like the idea because it isn't the most efficient use of material and not the "elegant" answer. Doesn't mean it can't be done. I don't have a copy of the pressure vessel code any longer but it may be that elliptical are not covered. I don't remember any.
-luminescent cave line. I woner if someone has already done this? It shouldn't be that difficult r expensive.
As for less drag. Hoods and shoulders of suits should have a rough surface. Rough surfaces produce less drag by promoting turbulent flow. Engineers go for laminar flow because it is predictable and controllable. Since your fins control your propulsion, generating some turbulence around the front of you shouldn't affect control much.
-Compression due to depth of a carbon/epoxy composite tank should not be a problem. Compression properties are well known due to a high level of testing. Compression is a matrix (resin) dominated property and buckling critical for the fiber, so everybody tests for it.
-A thin, heated suit is something to look into. Power and suit heat loss are the problems.
-Personally formed backplate. This could be done by making a cast and then doing a "wet lay-up" composite plate. You could even make a reliable one in your garage. Problems are that it is expensive and so custom that it has low resale value.
-Solar panels. Nice if you are surface swimming and outside on shore a lot. They won't collect much as you submerge. They also won't have the best position for sunlight. I think a car charger might be more useful.
-luminescent stripes could be experimented with by buying some at Wal-Mart and taking them down to see if you can see them very well. I'm not sure they will be very visible, but I may have to try this myself. I have an underwater pulsing strobe I strap to my leg for the same purpose.
-Conformal tank. Engineers don't like the idea because it isn't the most efficient use of material and not the "elegant" answer. Doesn't mean it can't be done. I don't have a copy of the pressure vessel code any longer but it may be that elliptical are not covered. I don't remember any.
-luminescent cave line. I woner if someone has already done this? It shouldn't be that difficult r expensive.
As for less drag. Hoods and shoulders of suits should have a rough surface. Rough surfaces produce less drag by promoting turbulent flow. Engineers go for laminar flow because it is predictable and controllable. Since your fins control your propulsion, generating some turbulence around the front of you shouldn't affect control much.