Platypus Underwater Exploration Vehicle Creator Thinks Outside the Bubble
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"The submersible has existed for a long time, but with a big bubble," Bertrand tells Gizmag. "We're the first to offer an up position in order to navigate like a boat, and a submerged position where you are under the water to navigate – totally free, wearing just a swimsuit."
The Platypus is basically a catamaran with a central platform that the passengers straddle. Two pivoting arms connect the two hulls to the platform, which can be hydraulically lowered under the water. In this way, the users can cruise around above and, with the aid of an in-built air compressor supplying oxygen, below the water's surface.
However, the company also plans to produce a model powered by two 9.9 hp Mercury engines that will give the craft a surface mode speed of up to 40 knots (46 mph/74 km/h) and greater range. In surface navigation mode, the central nacelle sits about 50 cm (20 in) above the surface of the water, which Bertrand told us "gives the impression of flying over the water." In dive mode, the passengers are about 2 m (6.5 ft) below the surface.
An early prototype had the air intake placed inside the floats, however, during testing the team found that the air fed to the submerged passengers had the less-than-desirable smell of hydraulic oil. For this reason, the final prototype version pumps air to the passengers from outside the craft using an electric air compressor.
"We are still designing the final version, that is going to be quite different from the prototype you see today," says Bertrand. "Firstly, we are going to have a rear platform, as you can see it's only a catamaran today, as we noticed it was an issue that you don't have the space in order to work on the Platypus. With today's shark cages, you cannot move out and say hello to the sharks, it's not very secure. So with the final version, we are going to be able to integrate a deploying cage into the mechanism, as an option. We propose a mobile shark cage, between the four hydraulic arms holding the nacelle, we are going to have smaller arms for the cage." Bertrand says the plans for the shark cage should be completed early next year.
Bertrand hopes to have the first units due for a release around March/April of 2014 and the company plans to take pre-orders before the end of this year with potential buyers required to put down a deposit of €5,000 (US$6,750) for a "Classic" Platypus. The company is aiming for minimum starting prices of €42,000 (US$56,700) for the ICE-engine powered model and €50,000 (US$67,500) for the electric version. [via]
