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AirBuddy Peralatan Menyelam Yang Dibekalkan Permukaan by Jan Kadlec

AirBuddy Peralatan Menyelam Yang Dibekalkan Permukaan by Jan Kadlec is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award Gangsa in Reka Bentuk Barangan Sukan, Kecergasan dan Peralatan Rekreasi Competition Category.


GangsaBarangan Sukan· 2021

AirBuddy Peralatan Menyelam Yang Dibekalkan Permukaan

by Jan Kadlec

Client: AirBuddy, OXY Pty Ltd

A' Design Award Gangsa Winner in Barangan Sukan Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About AirBuddy Peralatan Menyelam Yang Dibekalkan Permukaan

Dari kejauhan, AirBuddy menyerupai bot kembung kecil - motif marin yang mewujudkan hubungan emosi dengan segmen pelanggan utama, iaitu bot. Dengan visi untuk mencipta unit SSBA rekreasi terkecil, paling ringan dan paling berkuasa, reka bentuk itu berfungsi dan secara semula jadi menghormati undang-undang fizik. Oleh itu mengapa takungan udara (terapung) menggunakan bentuk toroid, bentuk kedua terbaik (selepas sfera) untuk mengagihkan gelung dan tegasan membujur yang dihasilkan oleh tekanan udara di dindingnya. Reka bentuk AirBuddy menyampaikan kemudahan penggunaan, namun keteguhan dan kecemerlangan teknologi.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Gangsa

AirBuddy Peralatan Menyelam Yang Dibekalkan Permukaan ialah pemenang A' Design Award Gangsa, pengiktirafan yang amat berprestij yang dianugerahkan kepada reka bentuk cemerlang yang dicirikan oleh kreativiti, kecerdikan dan ketajaman fikiran. Pemenang Gangsa ialah artifak yang amat mahir dan sangat kreatif yang membuktikan pengalaman luas, imaginasi dan akal budi pereka bentuknya. AirBuddy Peralatan Menyelam Yang Dibekalkan Permukaan diharapkan menjadi objek yang sangat dihargai, dikagumi dan disayangi, sangat profesional dan inovatif. Reka bentuk pemenang A' Design Award Gangsa ini merangkumi amalan terbaik dalam seni, sains, reka bentuk dan teknologi, dan cemerlang dalam perhatiannya terhadap butiran. AirBuddy Peralatan Menyelam Yang Dibekalkan Permukaan memenuhi keperluan dengan indah, menyentuh keinginan, memikat perasaan dan menarik rasa ingin tahu.

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.

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