Designer : Pablo Lopez via TreeHugger

Designer : Hyunsoo Choi

Designer : DS Design

Designer : Fima via Trendir

Text from Adam :
There are over 400,000 reported drownings and 8 – 10 times as much near drowning experiences worldwide every year. In the UK there are 500 annual drownings. These figures have remained the same for nearly 20 years which tells us that any current equipment and practice is not having the required impact to reduce these numbers.

I have been a beach lifeguard for a number of years and further primary and secondary research has shown that there are a number of key problems that reduce the survival rate of beach users.
These problems are:

• Slow response time
• Surveillance
• Lifeguard safety
• Human limitation of lifeguards

From this research it was decided to look to the future to see what could potentially be new directions for beach safety equipment, this design is therefore based for the year 2020.

The design process was in close collaboration with the BSA (British Surfing Association) headquarters in Newquay (UK). Starting with brainstorming where no idea was a bad idea, followed by concept generation and a wide variety of modeling and system/ scenario testing, the design took innovation from nature, new and existing technologies and user testing.

Explanation of final design

The ‘Mantra’ lives on the sea bed during peak seasons just off the coast of beaches; it uses small hairs on its surface to collect and store energy from tides and waves (called ‘Super Cillia Skin’). It detects distress and drowning using electro sensors coupled with sonar which even today are highly sensitive, for example heartbeats and movements can easily be monitored. When a casualty is detected it swims up to 15mph using SMAs in the wings. The victim is carefully picked up onto an inbuilt stretcher where they are carried on top the water using hydrofoils and impellers. The ‘Mantra’ is always in constant communication with lifeguards and so is met at a specific beach location by lifeguards and ambulances where an EAP is in place and the stretcher is removed without disturbing the patient, who in the worst case scenario may have neck injuries.

Stretchers are replaced and the ‘Mantra’ can assume its position at sea once more. The whole process is estimated to take under 2 minutes.

The final design as can be seen from images, uses biomimicry from a manta ray for many reasons –

• Large flat surface area for all weather stability
• Excellent turning circle and manouverability
• Excellent strength to weight ratio
• Low energy travel
• Considered as a non aggressive creature/ form

Advantages of ‘Mantra’:

• Removal of contact with bodily fluid
• Safety of lifeguards
• Immediate response time
• Completely automated
• Better for spinal and other injuries
• Aesthetics
• Function
• Sustainable

Designer : Adam Scott

Designer : Michael Young

Designer : Anne Forschner

Text from John :
Imagine sleeping while you drive. This notion may sound insane, but it is very possible with the Saucer. The world today is growing at a very fast pace and will continue to do so, meaning that people will not have enough time for anything and sadly that includes our precious sleep-time. Just to mention a few, perhaps you often have late nights from work and are too tired to drive or you need to get to an appointment, which is hundreds of miles away, early as possible the next morning or maybe you were invited to a party, but too drunk to drive back home. This is where the Saucer comes in…

Of course, the vehicle is not designed for an alcoholic individual or to cure insomnia, rather it is designed for those with very busy lives that leave them with little or limited sleep time.

The Saucer is a self-driven vehicle with a single size bed arrangement, where the driver is no longer the driver and instead take the time to sleep as he/she travel to his/her destination. This unique vehicle is especially targeted at night-shift individuals who are a long way from home. Simply put, if you’re feeling too tired to drive, don’t leave home without it.

The interior is soundproof and is equipped with a set of programming consoles that self-drive the vehicle. Even when awake, while traveling to your destination, there is enough room for you to lay back and relax, and keep yourself busy. Perhaps reading a magazine or newspaper, or simply turning-on some entertainment. A medium-size cargo compartment is also integrated at the rear end of the vehicle where you can store up some of your gear, such as a briefcase or a suitcase. – inspired by the Alien Flying Saucer.

Designer : John Bukasa

The concept comprises a metal plate built with high conductive and heat resin metal where the essence cord should be placed and a low-voltage PTC thermistor has been used to make it more secured than other electric repellents. The termistor contains an over-current protection fuse that prevents fire way before it is probable to occur. Mint Mosquito Repellent offers the advantage of customizing the amount of aroma oil as the user’s desire. Moreover, you can use other natural substances such as Eucalyptus oil, glass oil and lavender oil. The MMR is completely safe to use with infants and children, and has no harmful chemical processes like other conventional repellents.

Designer : Mintpass

Designer : Dominic D’Andrea and Tram Pham