Swimcar उभयचरयानम् by Suzhou University of Technology

Swimcar उभयचरयानम् by Suzhou University of Technology is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award कांस्यपुरस्कारः in भविष्यकालीन अभिकल्पना Competition Category.

कांस्यम्भविष्यकालीनम्· 2026

Swimcar उभयचरयानम्

by Suzhou University of Technology

Client: Suzhou University of Technology

A' Design Award कांस्यपुरस्कारः Winner in भविष्यकालीनम् Category

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About Swimcar उभयचरयानम्

स्विम्कार् इति जलप्लावनप्रवणनगरेभ्यः परिकल्पितं मॉड्यूलर्-उभयचरयानम् अस्ति। इदं यानं मुद्रितं विद्युच्चालितम् अधःसंरचनं (चेसिस्) कार्बन-तन्तु-संमिश्रनिर्मितेन स्वतन्त्रेण कक्षेण च संयोजयति। मार्गोपयोगकाले चुम्बकीय-द्रवचालित-सन्धिः उभौ भागौ संयुक्तौ धारयति। यदा संवेदकाः जलवृद्धिं जानन्ति, तदा कक्षः विमुच्यते जीवनरक्षकनौकावत् च प्लवते, येन यात्रिणः जलपृष्ठस्य उपरि एव तिष्ठन्ति। यानस्य गमनकाले पर्यावरणहितकारी घटकः वातन-निस्यन्दनद्वारा जलं शोधयति। चक्रान्तर्गताः चालकयन्त्राः स्थले जले च प्रणोदनं प्रयच्छन्ति।

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award कांस्यपुरस्कारः

Swimcar उभयचरयानम् A' Design Award कांस्यपुरस्कारस्य विजेता अस्ति; अयम् उच्चप्रतिष्ठितः सम्मानः सृजनशीलतया उद्भावनकौशलेन तीक्ष्णप्रज्ञया च विशिष्टेभ्य उत्कृष्टेभ्योऽभिकल्पेभ्यो दीयते। कांस्यविजेतारः प्रचुरकौशलयुक्ता उल्लेखनीयतया सृजनशीलाश्च शिल्पकृतयः सन्ति, याः स्वाभिकल्पकानां विपुलम् अनुभवं कल्पनाशक्तिं साधनसम्पन्नतां च प्रमाणयन्ति। Swimcar उभयचरयानम् अत्यन्तं मूल्यवान् प्रशंसितः प्रियश्च पदार्थः, उल्लेखनीयतया व्यावसायिको नवोन्मेषयुक्तश्च भविष्यतीति प्रत्याशा क्रियते। A' Design Award कांस्यपुरस्कारं जितवद् एतद् अभिकल्पकार्यं कलाविज्ञानाभिकल्पप्रौद्योगिकीनां श्रेष्ठतमाः पद्धतीः समावेशयति सूक्ष्मांशेषु ध्यानाच्च उत्कृष्टम् अस्ति। Swimcar उभयचरयानम् अस्माकम् आवश्यकताः सुन्दरं पूरयति, कामनाः स्पृशति, भावान् मोहयति, जिज्ञासां चाकर्षयति।

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Swimcar is a modular, Split-Body Amphibious system engineered for urban resilience. It integrates a high-performance electric chassis with an independent cabin. Unlike standard vehicles, its "Split-Body Logic" allows the cabin to detach instantly during floods as an autonomous "Life-Saving Ark." Furthermore, the "Eco-Benefit Module" actively purifies water via physical aeration and filtration. This innovation transforms transit into a net-positive ecological activity.
Dimensions & Packaging: The Swimcar is designed to automotive-marine hybrid standards. Dimensions: 5,200 mm Length x 2,150 mm Width x 1,850 mm Height. The cabin features a 2,850 mm wheelbase for optimal stability. Technical properties include a IP68-rated dual-motor powertrain (350 kW output) and a high-capacity 120 kWh solid-state battery housed in a watertight lower bay. The "Life-Ark" cabin offers 8,500 liters of reserve buoyancy. Construction utilizes pre-preg carbon fiber and marine-grade 5083 aluminum alloy.
Tags: Amphibious Mobility, Split-Body Logic, Urban Resilience, Life-Saving Ark, Eco-Benefit Module, Water Purification
Production Technology: Swimcar utilizes a lightweight Carbon-Fiber composite shell for the cabin to ensure maximum buoyancy and structural integrity. The chassis features a sealed electric powertrain with high-torque in-wheel motors. The core innovation is the magnetic-hydraulic decoupling interface, allowing instantaneous separation under pressure. We employed CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) to optimize the hull's hydrodynamic efficiency and FEA (Finite Element Analysis) for crashworthiness.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge was balancing structural unity with emergency detachment. Engineering a magnetic-hydraulic interface that remains rigid at highway speeds but releases instantly under water pressure required rigorous iterative modeling.
Research: This applied design research aimed to eliminate urban drowning risks. Using a User-Centered Design methodology, I analyzed flood mortality data and hydraulic pressure physics. Tools included CFD simulation and modular architectural modeling. I interviewed emergency responders to identify vehicle escape failures. Results proved that a detachable buoyant cabin is more viable than waterproofing. This shift from "sealed" to "separable" design ensures life safety, offering a resilient model for future urban transit and insurance risk mitigation.
Inspiration: The inspiration for Swimcar stems from recurring tragedies where passengers are trapped in submerged vehicles during flash floods. Witnessing these preventable losses motivated a shift toward a Life-Safety First philosophy. By researching modular architecture and hydrodynamics, the Split-Body Logic was developed to address the failure of traditional automotive exits under hydraulic pressure.
Project Duration: The project commenced in November 2025 and was developed over a three-month intensive design and research period. The design process and technical conceptualization were primarily conducted in Changshu, China. The project reached its final completion in January 2026, integrating comprehensive modular architectural studies and advanced amphibious system modeling.
Operation Flow: In daily use, Swimcar functions as a seamless commuter. On land, the cabin and chassis act as one; when entering water, the electric propulsion engages automatically. The "Split-Body" magic happens during emergencies: internal sensors detect rising water levels, triggering a hydraulic release that ejects the cabin. It transforms from a car into a buoyant life-raft instantly. This fail-safe interaction ensures passengers stay above water, performing better than any traditional seal.
Team Members: Weiwei Zhang
Image Credits: Image #1: Designer Kun Wu, Modeler and Renderer Kun Wu, Swimcar Exterior Concept, 2026. Image #2: Designer Weiwei Zhang, 2026. Image #3: Designer Kun Wu, 2026. Image #4: Designer Kun Wu, 2026. Image #5: Designer Kun Wu, Illustrator, 2026.