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The SeaBubbles Case
A French skipper and a Swedish surfer invent a way to use city rivers as if they were highways. An idea as simple as it is ingenious, the result of the latest technologies in the field of materials and alternative energies.
SeaBubbles will revolutionise the way citizens of metropolises will see their rivers from tomorrow: no longer a landscape element, but an artery of communication. They are shuttles made of ultra-light composite materials that, propelled by electric motorsthey are able to reach such a speed that they can rise on their foils (like the America's Cup catamarans of which we have spoken here), reducing hydrodynamic resistance by more than 40% and thus sailing at more than 15 knots (almost 30 km/h) with zero emissions and in total silence.
The two designers: Alain Thébault and Anders Bringdal
The two visionary designers of the SeaBubbles envisaged that each shuttle could seat five passengers. The units are piloted automatically and are powered by solar panels on the canopy, as well as by hydro generators moved by the current of the river and positioned below their starting/recharging station. The designers have also estimated the cost of each river trip to be around 12 euros.
In 2017 the SeaBubbles will make their debut on the Seine, in Paris, with a first experimental station and a total of five shuttles. More stations will follow in San Francisco and it is to be believed, at that point, that many cities will be lining up to see these cute shuttles navigate their rivers and lakes.
The design of the shuttles is particularly well thought outIt is reminiscent of the robots of childhood games, inspiring simplicity and great usability at first glance. The choice was made to focus on these conceptual dimensions, rather than on a futuristic, angular and somewhat repelling style, with the everyday use that it is hoped SeaBubbles will perform in metropolises in mind.
The total cost of the project - from the design phase to the engineering and execution phase - is approximately EUR 3.5 million. Funds that the company producing the SeaBubbles claims to have already reached. It is therefore now only a matter of time before our rivers enter the 21st century.
Source: Dailymail.co.uk[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_button dimension=”outline” corner_style=”full_rounded” size=”medium” icon=”mk-icon-home” url=”/” align=”center” margin_top=”30″ margin_bottom=”0″ margin_right=”0″]Torna alla Home[/mk_button][/vc_column][/vc_row]
