AirBuddy Th’ Ann An Gèar Dàibhidh Air A Thoirt Seachad Le Uachdar by Jan Kadlec

AirBuddy Th’ Ann An Gèar Dàibhidh Air A Thoirt Seachad Le Uachdar by Jan Kadlec is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Duais Umha A' Design Award in Dealbhadh Bathar Spòrs, Fallaineachd agus Uidheamachd Cur-seachad Competition Category.

UmhaBathar Spòrs· 2021

AirBuddy Th’ Ann An Gèar Dàibhidh Air A Thoirt Seachad Le Uachdar

by Jan Kadlec

Client: AirBuddy, OXY Pty Ltd

Duais Umha A' Design Award Winner in Bathar Spòrs Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Rannsaich Tuilleadh View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About AirBuddy Th’ Ann An Gèar Dàibhidh Air A Thoirt Seachad Le Uachdar

Bho astar, tha AirBuddy coltach ri bàta beag inflatable - adhbhar mara a chruthaicheas ceangal tòcail ris a’ phrìomh roinn teachdaiche, na bàtaichean. Leis an t-sealladh gus an aonad cur-seachad SSBA as lugha, as aotrom agus as cumhachdaiche a chruthachadh, tha an dealbhadh obrachail agus gu nàdarra a’ toirt spèis do laghan fiosaig. Mar sin carson a tha an loch tasgaidh èadhair (fleòdradh) a’ cleachdadh cumadh toroidal, an dàrna cruth as fheàrr (às deidh sfè) gus an cearcall agus an cuideam fad-ùine a chruthaicheas cuideam an adhair anns na ballachan aige a sgaoileadh. Tha dealbhadh AirBuddy a’ nochdadh furasta a chleachdadh, ach neart agus sàr-mhathas teicneòlach.

The Recognition

About the Duais Umha A' Design Award

Tha AirBuddy Th’ Ann An Gèar Dàibhidh Air A Thoirt Seachad Le Uachdar air Duais Umha A' Design Award a bhuannachadh, aithneachadh gu math urramach a bheirear do dhealbhaidhean sònraichte a tha air an comharrachadh le cruthachalachd, innleachd agus geurchuis. Tha buannaichean Umha nan obraichean gu math sgileil agus gu sònraichte cruthachail a dhearbhas eòlas farsaing, mac-meanmna agus tapachd an luchd-dealbhaidh. Thathar an dùil gum bi AirBuddy Th’ Ann An Gèar Dàibhidh Air A Thoirt Seachad Le Uachdar na nì air a bheil mòran meas, ion-mholta agus gràdhach, a tha gu sònraichte proifeiseanta agus ùr-ghnàthach. Tha an dealbhadh seo a bhuannaich Duais Umha A' Design Award a' cur nan cleachdaidhean as fheàrr ann an ealain, saidheans, dealbhadh agus teicneolas an gnìomh, agus tha e sàr-mhath airson an aire do mhion-fhiosrachadh. Bidh AirBuddy Th’ Ann An Gèar Dàibhidh Air A Thoirt Seachad Le Uachdar a' sàsachadh fheumalachdan gu h-iongantach, a' suathadh ri miannan, a' tàladh faireachdainnean agus a' togail fiosrachd.

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.