SeaBubble
The SeaBubbles is an experimental hydrofoil, the size of a small car. It is proposed they could be used as water taxis in cities.[1][2]
History[edit]
Founded by Alain Thébault, designer of the world record breaking Hydroptère, who conceived the idea and Anders Bringdal, they brought together a team in France, with skills in hydrodynamic designing. Finalizing a design in 2016 for a five-person SeaBubbles water taxi.[3][4][5]
After testing a ⅛ scale prototype, in July 2016 they raised capital of €500,000 to fund the next stage.[6] Full size prototypes are being built and five will be tested on the Seine in Paris in 2017, operating between two landing stages.[7][8][9]
Design[edit]
Designed to operate in a no-wake zone, the SeaBubbles rises after a few meters and reaches a speed of 11 to 15 km/h (6 to 8 kn), on four skids. This reduces water drag by 40% and increases efficiency,[3] allowing speeds of up to a potential 46 km/h (25 kn).[6]
The SeaBubble is powered by two electrically driven propellers attached to the rear skids. The electric power is replenished at the landing stage by using a mixture of solar panels and turbines to charge the batteries.
A full size prototype was tested in March 2017 Prototype test.
Eco friendly[edit]
The Bubble is silent and as it makes no wake, it will not erode river banks.[3]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Skip Down the Seine in a Flying River Taxi". Bloomberg.com. 2016-07-29. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ↑ "Seabubbles – a new hydrofoil taxi for city rivers". The Independent. 2017-01-23. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "The Project". SeaBubble.
- ↑ "A bord d'une SeaBubble, voler sur le Léman" (in français). Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ↑ "Les SeaBubbles testés au printemps sur la Seine". RTL.fr (in français). Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Skip down the Seine in a flying river taxi". Bloomberg. 29 July 2016.
- ↑ "'Flying' water taxis for Paris". The Connexion. 26 October 2016.
- ↑ "Flying water taxis highlight French startup frustrations". Reuters. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
- ↑ "SeaBubbles, la bulle écolo qui "vole" sur l'eau". Le Huffington Post (in français). 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
External links[edit]
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