AirBuddy Holim'a Metsi A Fanoang Ka Holimo by Jan Kadlec

AirBuddy Holim'a Metsi A Fanoang Ka Holimo by Jan Kadlec is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award in Moralo wa Dihlahiswa tsa Dipapadi, Bophelo bo Botle le Thepa ya Boithabiso Competition Category.

BoronseDihlahiswa tsa Dipapadi· 2021

AirBuddy Holim'a Metsi A Fanoang Ka Holimo

by Jan Kadlec

Client: AirBuddy, OXY Pty Ltd

Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award Winner in Dihlahiswa tsa Dipapadi Category

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Verified Award Winner
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Hlahloba Hahoло View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About AirBuddy Holim'a Metsi A Fanoang Ka Holimo

Ha u le hole, AirBuddy e tšoana le seketsoana se nang le moea o monyane - sepheo sa metsing se bakang khokahano ea maikutlo le karolo ea mantlha ea bareki, basesisi ba likepe. Ka ponelopele ea ho theha yuniti e nyane ka ho fetesisa ea SSBA, e bobebe ebile e matla ka ho fetesisa, moralo oa sebetsa ebile o hlompha melao ea fisiks. Ke ka lebaka leo sebaka sa polokelo ea moea (float) se sebelisang sebopeho sa toroidal, sebopeho sa bobeli se setle (ka mor'a sphere) ho aba hupu le khatello ea longitudinal e entsoeng ke khatello ea moea maboteng a eona. Moralo oa AirBuddy o fana ka ts'ebeliso e bonolo, empa matla le bokhabane ba thekenoloji.

The Recognition

About the Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award

AirBuddy Holim'a Metsi A Fanoang Ka Holimo ke mohapi oa Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award, kananelo e hlomphehang haholo e fuoang meralo e ikhethang e tsejoang ka boqapi, bohlale ba ho qapa le bohlale. Bahapi ba Boronse ke lintho tse nang le bokhoni ka ho felletseng le boqapi bo hlollang tse tiisang boiphihlelo bo bongata, mohopolo le bokhoni ba ho iphumana ba baqapi ba tsona. AirBuddy Holim'a Metsi A Fanoang Ka Holimo e lebelletsoe ho ba ntho e hlomphuoang haholo, e ratoang le e ratehang, e nang le boprofeshenale bo bonahalang le mehopolo e mecha. Moralo ona o hapileng Moputso oa Boronse oa A' Design Award o kenyelletsa mekhoa e metle ka ho fetesisa bonong, mahlaleng, moralong le theknolojing mme o hlahella ka ho tsepamisa maikutlo lintlheng tse nyenyane. AirBuddy Holim'a Metsi A Fanoang Ka Holimo e kutloisisa litlhoko hantle, e ama litakatso, e hapa maikutlo mme e tsosa takatso ea ho tseba.

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.