AirBuddy Oerflak Levere Dive Gear by Jan Kadlec

AirBuddy Oerflak Levere Dive Gear by Jan Kadlec is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award yn Brûns in Sportartikelen, Fitness en Rekreaasje-apparatuer Ûntwerp Competition Category.

BrûnsSportartikelen· 2021

AirBuddy Oerflak Levere Dive Gear

by Jan Kadlec

Client: AirBuddy, OXY Pty Ltd

A' Design Award yn Brûns Winner in Sportartikelen Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #123807

Mear ferkenne View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About AirBuddy Oerflak Levere Dive Gear

Fan in ôfstân liket AirBuddy op in miniatuer opblaasboat - in marinemotyf dat emosjonele ferbining makket mei it haadklantsegment, de boaters. Mei de fisy om de lytste, lichtste en machtichste rekreative SSBA-ienheid te meitsjen, is it ûntwerp funksjoneel en respektearret natuerlik de wetten fan 'e natuerkunde. Dêrom brûkt it luchtreservoir (float) toroïdale foarm, de op ien nei bêste foarm (nei bol) om de hoepel en longitudinale spanning te fersprieden dy't ûntstien binne troch de loftdruk yn har muorren. It ûntwerp fan AirBuddy bringt gebrûksgemak oer, mar dochs robúste en technologyske treflikens.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award yn Brûns

AirBuddy Oerflak Levere Dive Gear is in winner fan de A' Design Award yn Brûns, in heech prestisjeuze erkenning foar treflike ûntwerpen dy't har ûnderskiede troch kreativiteit, fernuft en tûkens. Brûnswinners binne tige feardige en opfallend kreative artefakten dy't de grutte ûnderfining, ferbylding en betochtsumens fan har ûntwerpers befêstigje. Fan AirBuddy Oerflak Levere Dive Gear wurdt ferwachte dat it in tige heech achte, bewûndere en dierber objekt is dat opmerklik profesjoneel en ynnovatyf is. Dit winnende ûntwerp fan de A' Design Award yn Brûns yntegrearret de bêste praktiken yn keunst, wittenskip, ûntwerp en technology en is treflik om syn omtinken foar detail. AirBuddy Oerflak Levere Dive Gear foldocht behoeften prachtich, reitsjet winsken, betsjoeveret gefoelens en sprekt nijsgjirrigens oan.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: AirBuddy bridges the gap between snorkelling and Scuba diving. The battery-powered floating dive compressor can be recharged from a socket, i.e. does not require any air refills, rentals, complicated logistics or bulky gear. It enables diving for almost an hour to one diver (up to 12m deep) or two divers (up to 6m deep) and weighs about 50-60 percent less than other dive gear on the market. The battery recharge costs only about 0.1 dollar (vs. 20 dollar for single air tank hire).
Dimensions & Packaging: 533 x 397 x 540 mm
(300mm excl. the dive flag)
Tags: Surface Supplied Diving Gear, SSBA, Hookah, Innovative Dive Gear, Self-guided Diving, Coral Reef Diving, Lobstering, Hull Cleaning, Fouled Prop Untanglement, Underwater Maintenance, Underwater Treasure Hunting, Underwater Photography
Production Technology: Designed with portability and stowability in mind, AirBuddy became the world's smallest and lightest recreational SSBA, yet significantly exceeds the performance and safety of other, larger, units with its 75lpm air flow, 38 psi pressure and 55 plus 10 min runtime. It features large 16l emergency air reservoir, water-cooled compressor, low battery underwater notification system, secure detachable magnetic switch, capsize protection, etc. - unique features previously not found in other SSBA units.
Design Challenge: The combination of size, weight, functional features, and aesthetic expectations from the customers, coupled with the safety aspects and regulations were impossible to achieve with the use of standard materials and conventional production technologies. We worked closely with the STU University of Technology and several expert plasticians and moulders to develop specialised mold and custom blend plastic resin to achieve strict tolerances and correct stress distribution as observed in the FEA models.
Research: AirBuddy is a result of 4 years of research and development, 10 generations of working prototypes and hundreds of modifications and test scenarios. We studied various aspects of diving physics and human anatomy that we then turned into functional, technical and safety requirements that formed the base for AirBuddy design. Our team of divers and engineers performed hundreds of bench tests and test dives in ocean to develop the key features, such as the emergency air reserve, capsize protection, underwater notification system, secure detachable switch, position control, etc.
Inspiration: Unlike many other sports, Scuba diving is not a grab-and-go activity. It requires preparation and logistics. Renting (or filling) air tanks at a dive centre takes time and costs money. The gear is heavy and bulky. It becomes a logistical nightmare when there is a significant distance to the dive centre, outside of opening hours, when on a boat, etc. We set out to design a small, lightweight, and user-friendly dive gear that provides independence of the infrastructure and is travel-friendly.
Project Duration: Our team of passionate divers, mechanical engineers and experienced entrepreneurs is based in Sydney, Australia. AirBuddy evolved from a passion project that started in 2014 and since then made splash winning several business competitions, receiving multiple grants, attracting the attention of global media and joining the ranks of top 1 percent of crowdfunding campaigns.
Operation Flow: AirBuddy is a small, portable surface supplied dive gear (hookah) for recreational, self-guided shallow water diving. AirBuddy provides a lightweight, compact and hassle-free alternative to air tanks. It runs off a rechargeable, battery-powered air compressor that provides fresh air from the surface for 55 min (plus reserve) at a max depth of up to 12 m (40 ft). Just recharge the battery and dive. No air tanks or bulky gear! AirBuddy is a popular choice for exploring reefs, hull cleaning, underwater boat maintenance, lobster diving or treasure hunting.