DEKA Goes Swimming

JohnM · 08-09-2007, 04:15 AM

From Aviation Week:

Swim Like A Dolphin

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.

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSagal

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!!!

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSagal

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)

that was my favorite show in the 70's (I love youtube)- I tried to swim that way when I was a kid

quade · 08-11-2007, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polo

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

08-09-2007, 04:15 AM	#1
JohnM Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: ManchVegas, NH Posts: 2,148	DEKA Goes Swimming From Aviation Week: Swim Like A Dolphin 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. 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. __________________ JohnM Anything worth doing for 2 hours is 10 times more worthwhile if done for 20 hours. RUSA #235 UMCA #3877 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-09-2007, 09:25 AM	#2
KSagal Glides a lot, talks more... Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Pelham, NH, USA. Posts: 10,356	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 Ian Sagal To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "Well done is better than well said." (Ben Franklin) Bene factum melior bene dictum Proud past President of SEG America and member of the First Premier Segway Enthusiasts Group and subsequent ones as well.

08-09-2007, 11:15 AM	#4
polo_pro Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA, USA. Posts: 2,608	movies? Are there any clips showing this new device in action? Did anyone notice the similarity between this device and a plane?

08-10-2007, 07:44 PM	#5
GadgetmanKen Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,149	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. __________________ "Wouldn't it be cool, if?...is like Folgers in my cup"

08-10-2007, 07:57 PM	#6
KSagal Glides a lot, talks more... Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Pelham, NH, USA. Posts: 10,356	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) __________________ Karl Ian Sagal To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "Well done is better than well said." (Ben Franklin) Bene factum melior bene dictum Proud past President of SEG America and member of the First Premier Segway Enthusiasts Group and subsequent ones as well.

10-27-2007, 12:49 AM	#9
JohnM Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: ManchVegas, NH Posts: 2,148	More from Popular Mechanics. __________________ JohnM Anything worth doing for 2 hours is 10 times more worthwhile if done for 20 hours. RUSA #235 UMCA #3877 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

10-27-2007, 05:17 PM	#10
flatbottom New Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Delco, PA Posts: 9	I wonder if they're a menace to pedestrians or maybe that was wind-turbines...nevermind. YHS __________________ "effort equals results" - Roger Penske

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