Hydrospine A Th’ Ann Am Ballasta Saor by Ludovic Lahccen and Raoul Morel

Hydrospine A Th’ Ann Am Ballasta Saor by Ludovic Lahccen and Raoul Morel is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 Duais Airgid A' Design Award in Dealbhadh Bathar Spòrs, Fallaineachd agus Uidheamachd Cur-seachad Competition Category.

AirgeadBathar Spòrs· 2023

Hydrospine A Th’ Ann Am Ballasta Saor

by Ludovic Lahccen and Raoul Morel

Client: Apnea Sub

Duais Airgid A' Design Award Winner in Bathar Spòrs Category

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The Design

About Hydrospine A Th’ Ann Am Ballasta Saor

Siostam cuideam cùil airson saor-dàibhidh, a leigeas le cothromachadh fìor mhionaideach agus spionnadh. A mhaoin, a comas modular agus luchdan luath, suas ri 6 kg, a ghabhas cleachdadh ann an suidheachadh sam bith, smachd saoraidh sam bith. Tha e uidheamaichte le sgaoileadh luath agus bucaill rèiteachaidh gus atharrachadh gu diofar mheudan, ge bith dè an gnè, a ’tabhann comhfhurtachd iongantach a bheir ort gu sgiobalta dìochuimhneachadh a’ chuideam a tha air a ghiùlan. Tha an dealbhadh aige a’ tighinn bhon mheasgachadh de bheathaichean mara agus gèar a chaidh a chruthachadh airson astar gus loidhnichean fìor uisgeachaidh a thoirt dha agus an glide as fheàrr a thabhann fon uisge. Tha a sùbailteachd ga fhàgail na bhun-bheachd aon-de-a-sheòrsa

The Recognition

About the Duais Airgid A' Design Award

Tha Hydrospine A Th’ Ann Am Ballasta Saor air Duais Airgid A' Design Award a bhuannachadh, aithneachadh gu math urramach a bheirear do dhealbhaidhean den chiad ìre, àlainn agus drùidhteach. Tha buannaichean Airgid nan obraichean anabarrach boillsgeach agus gu math cruthachail a nochdas sàr-eòlas, tàlant agus geurchuis an luchd-dealbhaidh. Thathar an dùil gum bi Hydrospine A Th’ Ann Am Ballasta Saor na obair mhìorbhaileach, na sàr-eisimpleir a tha gu sònraichte proifeiseanta agus gu domhainn ùr-ghnàthach. Tha an dealbhadh seo a bhuannaich Duais Airgid A' Design Award na innleachd glè fhaicsinneach, ion-mholta a bhrosnaicheas crìochan ealain, saidheans, dealbhaidh agus teicneolais. Tha Hydrospine A Th’ Ann Am Ballasta Saor na chruthachadh air a bheil mòran eud, a dhùisgeas miannan, a bheir faireachdainnean math agus a thogas iongnadh is miorbhail.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: It is the only dorsal ballast of this type that can support up to six kilos, the leads distribution in the container which can be quickly and easily modulated. Its assets are, its modularity, its comfort which you forget the weight transported, its hydrodynamic look for an optimal glide. Its safety with its quick release buckle. It can be used in all freediving activities and in all positions. It is undoubtedly the most advanced system to date allowing for ultra-precise buoyancy and neutrality.
Dimensions & Packaging: Storage shell 150mm x 45mm x 370mm
Lead 105mm x 7,5mm x 40mm
Tags: Freediving, apnea, dive, diving, weight, spine, hydrodynamic, lestage, weighting, sport
Production Technology: The materials used are all waterproof, easy to source and inexpensive (elastic and polypropylene straps, plastic buckles, textiles and lead). The shell is made of thermoformed textile with a zipped side opening. The internal structure has slots to fix the leads like a spine and accordion ribs to follow all movements. The leads were designed from a single template, to limit the molds and keep a hydrodynamic structure. Thus covering 98% of user needs. The rear nozzle allows air to escape.
Design Challenge: Many factors need to be taken into account and it has not always been easy for some team members to understand them. A freediving session was necessary to measure the problem. The biggest difficulty was the development of the harness, because it was difficult to hold 6 kg on the back and at the same time not prevent the rib cage from inflating, to be safe with a quick release and to be homologated in competition, to adapt to different morphologies. This required extensive structural and material testing.
Research: Before launching, we inventoried all the solutions available on the market and surveyed a panel of a hundred freedivers.
Next, we listed all the desired requirements for the product, assigning them a degree of importance. As well as the impacts that will occur on the different use cases. We quickly agree to test each hypothesis by prototyping it summarily. It was a principle rich in lessons allowing us to see the gap between the idea and reality while showing what needs to be corrected.
Inspiration: The concept was born out of not having enough practical and comfortable weight. As we would like a different approach, we did not have an established reference. We let our imagination free by relying on other areas. For the design of the shapes, we were inspired by sea animals as well as machines created for speed. Hydrodynamics also influenced the structure. Forcing us to review the structure to keep the modular aspect, and that it can remain flexible to follow the different body movements.
Project Duration: The project started solo in August 2019 in Lille, France. Then continued with the Transalley incubator in Valenciennes, France, from September 2020 to September 2022. Then solo again, with the collaboration of Raoul Morel as product designer.
Operation Flow: The equipment is carried like a backpack. The buckle at the front allows the straps to be adjusted according to size and to instantly release the weight with one hand by simple pressure.
The envelope containing the leads has reception racks to hold the pellets in place which are sandwiched with the upper part of the cover so that they cannot move. Leads can be placed in any order for extremely precise balancing.
Patents: Patent application FR2111503 filed on October 28, 2021. Transformed into a Certificate of Utility on September 07, 2022. Title: Diving equipment for freediver, Possessor: Ludovic Lahccen
Team Members: Creative Designer and Art Director: Ludovic Lahccen
Product Designer: Raoul Morel
Technical and Mechanical Engineer: Steven Pingon
Engineer and technical design office: Charles Pionchon
Tech Designer and prototypes: Alan Philippart
Plastics processing and 3D printing: Olivier Paul
Textile prototypes: Christiane Lefebvre
Image Credits: Main image is Image #1 Raoul Morel
Optional Image #1 Raoul Morel
Optional Image #2 Raoul Morel
Optional Image #3 Raoul Morel
Optional Image #4 Raoul Morel