DEKA Goes Swimming [Archive]

JohnM

08-09-2007, 04:15 AM

From Aviation Week (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a9dcc34c6-59bd-455a-b6ce-9bfbb6c09e30):

Swim Like A Dolphin (http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3a9dcc34c6-59bd-455a-b6ce-9bfbb6c09e30)

DARPA has taken the wraps of one of its most simple and yet revolutionary technologies at DARPATech in Anaheim. Power Swim is a human-powered machine comprising a pair of wide. pivoted foils strapped to the user's calves - and, says DARPA, it literally halves the energy required to swim, making it possible for a swimmer to sustain speeds of 2-2.5 knots - twice what is sustainable today. Power Swim prototypes are being tested by Navy SEAL teams.
Program manager Barbara McQuiston tells Ares that Power Swim emerged from a study of strong swimmers in the animal world, notably penguins and dolphins. As anyone who was a tuna or a shrimp in their past life can tell you, penguins and dolphins are depressingly fast, and moreover burn remarkably little energy.
What DARPA researchers found was that strong swimmers propelled themselves by generating vortices rather than brute-force fin-flapping. The wide foils on Power Swim do the same thing. They are claimed to be seven times more efficient than fins.

http://sitelife.aviationweek.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/0/10/b071f613-223c-493e-aa41-462484d010e8.Large.jpg

http://sitelife.aviationweek.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/14/1/cefaae9e-9eb6-4fd8-b155-dff7fc668e0b.Large.jpg

Other sources report some customer resistance to the device. "They're used to working hard, and if it doesn't hurt they don't think they're doing the job - but then we say, 'when have you ever swum above two knots?'." Another defense source observes: "SEALs are like Catholic school - if it doesn't hurt it's not good for you."
Power Swim is being readied for production by Deka, the company responsible for the Segway. So far, the military is the first target, with rescue swimmers as well as special operators in mind. However, there's little doubt that the commercial market will be large.

KSagal

08-09-2007, 09:25 AM

It looks like a device that is for people who are too lazy to kick. I predict it will make all these swimmers fat. LOL

Five-Flags

08-09-2007, 09:39 AM

It looks like a device that is for people who are too lazy to kick. I predict it will make all these swimmers fat. LOL

Karl, I'll thank you to come down to my office and clean up my desk -- after I just sprayed a mouthful of soda over it all. Hilarious!!! :D:D

polo_pro

08-09-2007, 11:15 AM

Are there any clips showing this new device in action? Did anyone notice the similarity between this device and a plane?

GadgetmanKen

08-10-2007, 07:44 PM

It looks like those foils are very similar in looks and function of those human powered skips that you stand on and bounce and it lifts you somewhat out of the water and skims the surface. I don't remember what they are called, but they have been mentioned here on SC recently and I even seen a You Tube video of a girl riding one. I imagine it works the same way as those. I never really got the hang of those regular flipper things anyway. I love to swim but am not supposed to because of my bad ears. I can't seem to find anything to keep them dry when I swim. I have custom ear plugs but they do not keep the water out. Back to note tho, I wonder if anyone has tried fins on their body like a dolphins, etc. Or the long side fins like on an eel and see how well it works. Just a thought.

KSagal

08-10-2007, 07:57 PM

Many years ago, there was a hokey tv show about a man from atlantis, I think. I believe the actor was Patrick Duffy. (JR's Brother in Dallas)

There were some scenes where he swam, and his technique was to keep both feet together, and use his arms by his side, and use his whole body, like an eel or how you would imagine a mermaid must swim...

I tried it and found that if swimming under water, it really does work. I got to be fairly proficient at it... (that style does not work well on the surface)

BillPaxton

08-10-2007, 09:12 PM

quade

08-11-2007, 01:40 AM

Are there any clips showing this new device in action? Did anyone notice the similarity between this device and a plane?

Well, the "fins" are airfoil shaped, which makes perfect sense since it really doesn't matter if it's air or water, it's all about the circulation of the medium around the surfaces.

Actually, this is much more in line with the way a dolphin swims than any sort of aircraft though since very few aircraft have flexible bodies and the angle of incidence (angle of wing to fuselage) is usually fixed.

Ever really take a close look at a dophin tail?

JohnM

10-27-2007, 12:49 AM

More from Popular Mechanics (http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4223354.html?src=syn&mag=pop&dom=mil&con=art&link=rel).

flatbottom

10-27-2007, 05:17 PM

if they're a menace to pedestrians or maybe that was wind-turbines...nevermind.

YHS

hellphish

10-29-2007, 02:43 PM

Awesome! Thanks for the update, John! I have been anxious to read more about this.

SegwayDan

11-21-2007, 09:38 AM

Are there any clips showing this new device in action? Did anyone notice the similarity between this device and a plane?
Here's one for a similar device:

http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=4372

Cube128

11-21-2007, 06:22 PM

I'm a scuba diver, and something like this would help me keep up with some of the quicker-moving underwater critters I've had the pleasure of encountering, I want one!