Underwater Mobility Device with Rotating Oxygen Mount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing submersible personal mobility devices require full diving equipment and specialized training, limiting their use and flexibility, and often necessitate a sealed chamber with limited breathable air supply.
Innovation Solution
A submersible personal mobility device that unfolds in water, allowing users to operate without full diving gear, using a rotatable folding section with an oxygen tank mount, electric propulsion, and a buoyancy system for neutral buoyancy, enabling easy transportation and operation by non-specialized users, with integrated sensors for ocean data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sealed chamber with onboard breathable air is used, then users can operate underwater without full diving equipment, but the duration of operation is limited by the amount of air carried
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the breathable air supply into two separate systems: a sealed observation chamber for the upper body and head, and a separate oxygen tank mounted on the folding section for supplemental oxygen. This segmentation allows the observation chamber to be smaller (requiring less initial air) while the oxygen tank provides extended duration through controlled dispensing.
2Ease of manufacture
If the device is designed to be foldable for transportation, then ease of transportation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a folding section that can rotate between a folded configuration for transportation and storage, and an unfolded configuration for operation. The folding section includes a mount for the oxygen tank that rotates with it, allowing the entire assembly to be compacted without compromising the functionality of the oxygen delivery system.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the oxygen tank mount is positioned to secure the center of gravity in front of the observation chamber, then stability is improved, but the device length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oxygen tank mount is positioned asymmetrically on the folding section to place the center of gravity of the oxygen tank in front of the observation chamber when unfolded. This asymmetric placement provides stabilizing weight distribution for underwater operation, while the folding mechanism allows this extended configuration to be compacted into a shorter transport form.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances user flexibility and autonomy, allows operation by a broader range of people without extensive training, and facilitates easier data collection of ocean conditions, while reducing equipment needs and increasing ease of use and transportation.
Implementation Method 1
a folding section further including a mount for an oxygen tank, wherein the folding section is rotatable with respect to the main section such that the apparatus may be folded to a folded configuration to facilitate transportation of the apparatus and may be unfolded when submerged
Implementation Method 2
The propulsion mechanism further includes an electrically powered motor, a thruster driven by the motor, and at least one battery connected to the motor
Implementation Method 3
using a rotatable folding section with an oxygen tank mount, electric propulsion, and a buoyancy system for neutral buoyancy
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
An underwater personal mobility device is provided. The underwater personal mobility device (100) can include a lower section (106) rotatably connected to a main body comprised of an observation chamber (112). The device may have at least two configurations, including a folded configuration, to enable ease of transport and storage of the device.