Edison Wang Thesis Project

1

R RESQUBEOverboard Rescue Device

2


Table of Contents

Research

Goal 8

Problem Statement 9

Participants Analysis 18

Hypothesis 9

Man Overboard Recovery 20

Needs 9

Stakeholders 22

Rescue Statistics 10

Users 24

Summary 4

4

User Profile 6

Project Overview 8

Top Five Known Cause of Death in Boating Accident 12

Top Five Primary Accident 13

Drowning Symptoms 14

Cold Water

Hypothermia

16

17

Personas 26

Interviews with industry experts 32

Interview Conclusions 33

3

Possible Materials

Possible Manufacture Process

Ergonomics Study

Personal Flotation Device (PFD) Analysis

Competitive Analysis

Product Requirements

Color Study

Pounds of Buoyancy

Concept Development

Design Concept

Early Stage Ideation

Exploded View

Bill Of Material (B.O.M)

Orthographic

Concept Refinement

Final Design

3D Model

Physical Model

Use Case

Reference

Survey Results

Design Process

34

42

44

106

109

114

120

124

46

128

51

126

54

127

38

57

58

64

60

69

132

4


SummaryA lot of people like open water activities, such as fishing, surfing, boating, and sailing, especially when the weather turns warm. However, there are many dangers that go along with these activities. The most common dangers of water activities are drowning and hypothermia.

The purpose of this project is to explore how the rescue process can be improved through the development of rescue devices. The project focuses on rescuing victims who are facing dangerous situations in the open water. It is necessary to think about enhancing the safety of the rescuer and increasing the survival chances of the victim by applying future or advanced technologies to rescue devices.

5

ReseaRch

6


User ProfileIn this project, there are two target user groups: general users, such as sports fishermen, and recreational boaters and professional rescuers, such as the Coast Guard and lifeguards.

Most of the general users don’t have water rescue training. For emergency situations, general users can use rescue devices that require rescuers to use their physical energy. Moreover, most of the recreational boaters are elderly people who can’t attempt a rescue because they are limited by their physical condition.

For professional rescuers, their training is focused on physical training and rescue device operation. In an emergency, they prefer to use rescue equipment first. If the rescue device is limited by certain factors, then they will consider rescuing the victim themselves or aborting the rescue mission. According to my interview results, the current rescue equipment mostly relies on the rescuer’s physical energy. Therefore the efficiency and effectiveness will be limited by the rescuer’s strength and energy level . My survey results showed that, most of the users accept that the price of a rescue device is between $ 100 and $250.

7

8


GoalThe goal of my project is to move beyond current rescue limitations and develop rescue devices. I want to explore how the rescue process can be improved in order to increase the safety of the rescuer and the survival chance of the victim.

Project Overview

9

Problem StatementWater rescue is a dangerous and physically tiring mission. Current rescue processes mostly count on human energy to rescue victims. This increases the safety risks of the rescuer during the rescue process.

HypothesisIf a product can be designed to assist rescuers during rescue process, then it can increase not only the survival chance of the victims, but also the rescuer’s safety.

NeedsImprove safety of water rescues.

Reduce human energy consumption during rescues.

Increase the efficiency of rescues.

Increase the survival chances of the victims.

10


45,000

40,000

35,000

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

Rescue Cases2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

6,000

5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

0Lives saved

Lives lost

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

From 2001 to 2009, on average, there were over 27,000 cases of U.S. Coast Guard rescue missions per year. The statistics show that the number of rescue missions are decreasing. This means that less and less fatal accidents happened in the open water and people are able to handle basic emergency situations.

On average, almost 5,000 lives were saved, and almost 900 lives were lost, between 2001-2009. In the past five years, the number of lives the U.S. Coast Guard saved and number of rescue cases have decreased 4% per year, which means that fewer people get involved in emergencies. However, the number of lives lost has remained stable, which means that certain number of people still have fatal accidents during open water activities.

Rescue Statistics

11

In the past five years, the number of lives lost before notification have increased, which means that not many people can save their companions or themselves in an open water accident. This is because recreational boaters don’t have enough rescue skills and their rescue equipment is not reliable enough to deal with all kinds of emergency situations. Moreover, the lives lost after notification remains stable, which means that people still die even after the Coast Guard rescues them. This is because the rescue process is the same and rescue equipment hasn’t improved.

This is an opportunity to develop rescue equipment for professional rescuers in order to improve their rescue experience and so that they can rescue victims safely and effectively. On the other hand, it is also an opportunity to develop rescue equipment for general users, so that they can rescue themselves and their companions by using the equipment. Therefore, all boaters can have a safer boating experience.

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

Lives lost beforenotificationLives lost after notification

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

12


Top Five Known Causes of Death in Boating Accidents (2005-2010)

520 people per year

124 people / Per year



8 people / Per year

Drowning

Trauma

Cardiac Arrest

Hypothermia

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

13

Top Five Primary Accident (2005-2010)






Collision with Vessel

Collision with Fixed Object

Falls Overboard

Skier Mishap

Capsizing

14


Drowning SymptomsDrowning is a silent killer. People who are drowning may not be able to call for help because they are expending all their energy to breathe or to keep their head above water. Furthermore, as water is introduced into the respiratory tract, the airway may go into a spasm, making it difficult to cry for help.

15

Be alert for signs that someone may be in trouble.

A person in the water flailing his or her arms

Displaying uneven swimming motions

Lying face down in the water

Only the head showing above water with mouth open

The drowning sequence

First, the person panics or struggles followed by submersion with breath-holding.

Loss of consciousness can begin within three minutes of being under water.

The brain may suffer damage if it is deprived of oxygen for more than six minutes.

The heart may go into an irregular rhythm that doesn’t allow the heart to pump blood, if it too is deprived of oxygen for more than a few minutes.

Signs of drowning

Bluish or pale skin of the face and lips

Cough with clear to frothy pink sputum

Decreased consciousness or loss of consciousness

Labored or no breathing

Weak or no heartbeat

16


Cold WaterCold water is estimated to be around and under the tempera-ture of 70 degrees. However, this will vary in each case due to the specific circumstances and physical condition of the person involved. Immersion in cold water can quickly numb the extremities to the point of uselessness. Cold hands cannot fasten the straps of a lifejacket, grasp a thrown rescue line, or hold onto an over-turned boat. Within minutes, severe pain clouds rational thought. And, finally, hypothermia (exposure) sets in, and without rescue and proper first aid treatment, unconsciousness and death.

Expected Survival Time in Cold Water

Water Temperature Exhaustion or Uncon-sciousness in

Expected Survival Time

70–80° F (21–27° C) 3–12 hours 3 hours – indefinitely

60–70° F (16–21° C) 2–7 hours 2–40 hours

50–60° F (10–16° C) 1–2 hours 1–6 hours

40–50° F (4–10° C) 30–60 minutes 1–3 hours

32.5–40° F (0–4° C) 15–30 minutes 30–90 minutes

<32° F (<0° C) Under 15 minutes Under 15–45 minutes

17

HypothermiaHypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it canproduce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Normal body temperature is around 98.6F (37 C). Hypothermia occurs as your body temperature passes below 95 F (35 C).

The first stage is defined as a drop in body temperature of one to three degrees. Stage one hypothermia drops the body’s temperature from 96.5-95 F (35.83-35 C).One may feel the hands get numb, goose bumps, mild shivering and the lips appear blue.

The second stage drops body temperature to between 95 and 91.4 F (35-33 C). People may not be able to use their muscles properly, they may be confused, and their extremities may feel completely numb. You can see pallor of the skin, and the lips and extremities may be blue in color. Shivering is usually extreme, since shivering is an attempt to keep the body warm.

Third stage hypothermia is defined by body temperature at or below 90 F (32.22 C). Though people may not shiver in this stage, they still have difficulty moving. The heart beats faster, confusion is significant and organs begin to fail. Without treatment, hypothermia at this stage is fatal.

18


Participants AnalysisIn recent years, the number of people in U.S. who have participated in boating has grown.

49.7 million

24%

51.8 million

26%

48.2million

29%

50.4 million

21%

51.4 million

2006

16 to 34

2007

35 to 44

2008

45 to 64

2009

65+

2010

Total Participation:

Participants by Age:

19

59%

16.4%

41%

18.3%

21.3%

17.5%

26.5%

Male

Less than $25k

Female

$25k - $49k

$50k - $74k

$75k - $99k

$100k+

Participants by Gender:

Participants by Income:

59% 41%

20


Man Overboard Recovery

1. Providing buoyancy for the victim.

2. Keeping the victim in sight.

3. Returning to the victim.

4. Connecting the victim to the boat.

5. Getting the victim onboard.

21

Quick Turn Rescue Quick Stop Rescue

WIND

MOB

WIND

MOB

22


Stakeholders

End UsersThe CoastguardLifeguardsMaintenance workersBeach goersBoatersPeople doing water sportsSwimmersRescue teamsSports teamsSport fishermenJet skiersWater skiersSail boaters

The United States Coast Guard AcademyThe United States Coast Guard AuxiliaryThe United States Water Rescue Dive TeamTeam Lifeguard Systems, IncWhiteCap Water rescue Training, LLC Rescue 3 InternationalPRI Rescue Training SpecialistsLifesaving Resources, Inc

Educators

23

Organizations

Manufactures

The International Maritime Organization The United States Lifesaving AssociationThe American Lifeguard AssociationThe American Boating AssociationThe Public Safety Diving AssociationThe American Sail Training Association

Rescue Solution International, Inc

Mustang Survival

Extrasport, Inc

Float-Tech, Inc

Force 6 Safety Products, Inc

Water Safety Products, Inc

Datrex Inc.

Kokatat watersports wear

National Marine Manufacturers Association

West Marine

24


This product is expeted to be used in an emergency situation by:

• General users, who do open water activities like sailing and boating.

• Professional users, who perform water rescue as a job, like the Coast Guard, life guards, and swift water rescue specialists.

Users

25

Recreational boater’s needs

• Reliable

• Convenient

• Intuitive

• Efficient

• Durable

• High performance

• Multi-functional

Needs

Professional rescuer’s needs

26


Personas

Peter

Age: 55 Profession: Recreational BoaterAnnual Income: $70,000

Current Situation and Problems :

Possible Future Scenario :

Peter loves fishing. He usually goes fishing once or twice every week. Every time he goes fishing, he catches big fish, especially in the open water. He bought a motorboat several years ago, and he also bought some lifesaving equipment like a life sling for emergency situations and a lifejacket for passengers. He doesn’t know how to rescue people in the water by himself because he hasn’t had any rescue training. He read the instructions for his rescue equipment only once when he bought it. Therefore, he isn’t very familiar with the rescue equipment on his boat. If an emergency happened, it might take a lot of time and risk for him to save people who have fallen into the water accidentally.

Peter loves fishing. When he bought his motorboat, he also bought special life saving equipment. This powerful equipment can help him to save peoples’ lives or his own life during an emergency. The product is very easy to use. He doesn’t have to spend time understanding how to use it. Now that he has this rescue equip-ment, he can enjoy a lot of fishing without worrying about the potential dangers of the open water.

27

28


Jessica


Jessica is a professional sailor and she loves sailing. She usually sails every week and sometimes she competes in sailing competitions. She knows about how to rescue people in the water because she went to sailing school and water rescue was part of the training. However, she once had an experience where her friend fell into the water and became unconscious. It was difficult for her to bring him back on board because his body was too heavy. The weight slowed down the rescue, so it took her longer to provide first aid.

Jessica is a professional sailor and she has rescue equipment on her sailboat. She doesn’t have to worry about dealing with all kinds of emergency situations because this equipment is very powerful and reliable. It can help her to rescue people in the water safely and efficiently without overly relying on human energy. Therefore, it shortens the rescue time and increases the survival chance of the victim.



29

30


Joseph


Joseph has a sailboat. He enjoys sailing, fishing and barbecuing on the open water. He knows how to rescue drowning people. He learned these rescue skills when he was young in sailing school. He is getting older and he usually goes fishing with his friend because it is safer than going alone. He still knows how to sail and sails often. However, he may not be able to rescue himself or others because of his health may not allow him to.

Joseph enjoys sailing and fishing on the open water. He has rescue equipment on his sailboat. This rescue equipment is powerful and user friendly. During an emergency situation, the equipment can assist him to rescue others or even save himself. He can go fishing or sailing alone without worrying so much about safety.



31

32


Interview with Industry Experts

These interviews were with professional rescuers, for example members of the Coast Guard, lifeguards, and firefighters. The purpose of this questionnaire was to gain a better understanding of the current rescue process, equipment, difficulties, and limita-tions in order to find out the needs from a professional rescuers’ point of view and identify design opportunities.

• Are there any differences between training and real rescue missions?

• What kinds of water rescue situations are most dangerous?

• How many people are in a rescue team?

• What is the most common vehicle used in a rescue mission?

• What kind of rescue equipment do you usually use?

• Are there any weaknesses in the rescue equipment?

• What training experience do you have?

• Could any aspect of the current rescue equipment be improved?

33

• What training experience do you have?

Interview Conclusions

Rescue equipment hasn’t changed for many years. The functionality and performance could be improved by applying new technology. The new rescue device could be a multi-functional device, in order to adapt to different situations.

The training consists of simulating the real situation and practicing to operate rescue equipment. The biggest difference between a real and simulated resecu is that the environmental circumstances could be more dangerous and unexpected accidents could happen in a real rescue.

Severe weather creates the most dangerous situations for both rescuers and victims.

Mass rescue is the most difficult and dangerous type of rescue.

The rescue equipment should only be operated by one rescuer.

Jet skis have the most mobility for near shore rescue. For open water rescue, rescue boats are the most common rescue vehicles.

The most common rescue devices are throwable rescue devices. However, these devices have limited rescue distance and the rescuer requires a lot of practice.

The performance of rescue equipment can be improved and reduce the energy consumption of the rescuer.

34


Survey ResultThis survey was for recreational boaters. The purpose of this survey was to gain a better understanding of users’ habits, needs, and abilities to deploy a rescue device in an emer-gency situation in order to identify the design opportunities.

About the survey : Respondent Number : 80 usersLocation : Treasure Island, Sausalito, Oakland

• Have you ever gone boating in the late evening or overnight?

59% 41%YES NO

Many people had experience boating at night. Fishing is the most common night time activity in the open water. Because the environment is dark, the safety risks are increased and the rescue process become more difficult.

Conclusion :

• How many people do you usually go boatingwith?With 1passenger

with 2 passengerswith 3 passengers

With 4 passengers

With more than 4 passengers

8% 9%

44% 27%

12%

Usually people go boating with 2 or 3 companions. If one person gets involved in an accident, then there is only one or two people that can oper-ate the rescue device.

Conclusion :

35

• Have you ever gone boating alone?

61%

39% YES

NO

Boating alone is dangerous. People who go boating alone take boating safety more seriously and have more awareness than others.The reason that some people don’t go boating alone is because there is no one to help them in an emergency situation.

Conclusion :

• Can you rescue people who fall into the water?

Most people said they can rescue people in the water, but it seems like they don’t have confidence about it. Some of the boat owners have training, but the passengers don’t.

55%

17%

YES

NO

28%Not sureConclusion :

Most users know how to operate rescue equipment, but they still need to be concernd about usability and accuracy. Some users never read the instructions carefully.

65%4%

YES

NO

31%Not sure

• Do you know how to use your rescue equipment?

Conclusion :

36


Some boat owners have basic rescue training because when they learn how to boat, the training canter also provides basic rescue training. However, most users have no water rescue training.

33%

67%

YES

NO

• Do you have any training experience in water rescue?

Conclusion :

• Have you ever practiced operating rescue equipment?

19%

81%

YES

NO

Most of the users have never practiced operating rescue equipment. In an emergency situation, the functionality and accuracy of the rescue equipment may not achieve the expected level.

Conclusion :

Spend under $100

2% Spend more than $400

Spend $100 to $200

Spend $200 to $300

4% Spend $300 to $400 • How much money are you willing to spend on rescue equipment?

29%19%

46%

On average, people are willing to spend more than $100 on rescue equipment. Moreover, it depends on the function of the equipment, but of the users are willing to spend more money to buy powerful rescue equipment.

Conclusion :

37

• How often do you check your rescue equipment?3% Every month

Every 6months

Every year

More than1year

16%

56%

25%

Most users will check and maintain their rescue equipment every year. Most users expected the maintenance period at least one or two years.

Conclusion :

Most users store their rescue equipment outside of the boat’s cabin. If they store their rescue equipment inside of the cabin, it will take more time to take the equipment out and deploy a rescue. Therefore, the equipment should be durable enough to be stored outside of the cabin.

Inside the cabin

Outside the cabin

27%

73%

• Where do you store your rescue equipment on your boat?

Conclusion :

38


Possible Materials

These materials have been explored and analyzed based on their possible benefit to this project.

Flotation Foam

Flotation Foam is a polyurethane 2 part foam that, when mixed in equal parts and poured in place, this foam will to be soundproof, insulate the device, and provide extra flotation. The flotation range is 100-120 lbs./qt. and 480-600 lbs./gal. The foam is approximately 95-98% closed cell, which resists absorbing water. However, continuous water submersion can eventually lead to loss buoyancy over a period of years.

Source: http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/

Kevlar

• High level of toughness • Load at specified elongation• High tensile strength at low weight• Structural rigidity• Low thermal shrinkage• Low electrical conductivity• High chemical resistance• Excellent dimensional stability• High cut resistance• Flame resistant, self-extinguishing

Source: http://www2.dupont.com/Kevlar/en_US/tech_info/index.html

General properties of Kevlar:

39

Nylon Webbing

Nylon webbing is the strongest and most durable of webbing straps. It has a tensile strength of about 4,200 lbs. (in one inch widths).

Polypropylene Rope (1/4 “)

Best use: Ski ropes, non-critical anchoring and docking.Benefits:Easily splicedLightweight and economicalSpecifications:Stretch: 5.5% @ 20% breaking strengthBreaking strength: 1,200 lb.

40


Vinyl Coating

Possible Materials

• Durable- highly resistant to abrasion, peeling, tearing, fading, stains, corrosion, chemicals, weather, moisture.• Flexible•Temperature (hot or cold) insulation• Flame-retardant• Non-toxic• Easy to clean and less maintenance

HDPE - High Density Polyethylene

• Light weight• Chemical and corrosion resistance•Temperature (hot or cold) insulation• Durable

41

• Duable• Flexible and easy to bend• Increase visibility

High Density Reflective Tape

42


Possible Manufacture Process

Compression Molding

Rotational Molding

Advantages :

Disadvantages :

• Good for rubber, thermoplastic, and fiber composites.• Lowest cost molds• Better for larger parts • Dimensional accuracy and stability is good

• Not suitable for fragile mold features, or small holds• Shape complexity is limited

Advantages :

Disadvantages :

• Low cost• Consistent wall thickness• Low pressure process

• Longer production time

43

Injection MoldingAdvantages :

Disadvantages :

• High production rates• Minimum scrap losses• Good strength for small parts

• High setup costs• Complicated process• Use for large quentities due to costs

Die CastingAdvantages :

Disadvantages :

• Excellent dimensional accuracy • Smooth cast surfaces • Reduces secondary machining operations

• Very high cost• The process is limited to high-fluidity metals

44


Ergonomics Study

Definition:

Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance.-WikipediaErgonomics plays an important role in industrial design; especially in that the dimensions of the human body are used to optimize the product while conforming to the body’s needs. It affects the product to not only be comfortable and easy to use, but also appear and perform better.

Considerations for human interaction:

Handles

Tool grip

Ring pulls

Push buttons

Toggle swithces

45

46


Product Requirements

Scope:

Definition:

This document defines the requirement for the product and serves as basis for concept development and design.

The product requirements are defined by following conditional words:

Must: Necessary or essentialShould: Recommended but not required. Indicates product goal.May: Expresses possibility.Will: Use to indicate a statement of fact.

Adding the word “not” to any one of these definitions means the opposite of the statement above.

47

Physical Requirements

The product must be made using vivid colors. (yellow, red, orange, and orange red) The product must be made of durable, corrosion resistant and UV resistant materials. The product should be easy to store.The product should be lightweight enough to be carried by one person. (Less than 4 lbs)The product should have signal lights.The product must be operable by one person.The product must have handles so that the user can easily hold the product.The product must be intuitive, ergonomic, and easy to operate in emergency situations. The product should have a rescue line container.

48


Functional Requirements

The product must be able to function normally in water under 70F.The product must be able to float steadily on the water’s surface.The product must be waterproof.The product must have fins or stabilizers in order for it to move on the water’s surface steadily. The product should able to rescue victims from a distance.

The product should have a bag to store the rescue rope.The bag should be made by 400 denier nylon.The bag should have a drawstring top.The bag should have a close-cell foam disk to keep it afloat.The bag should be big enough for 300 feet of rope.The bag should have a nylon webbing strap to connect into the handle.The bag should have diffrent colors on both sides.

Rope storage bag

Safety system

The product must have handles on the side that are easy to hold.The product must have soft material around the body to prevent injuring users.The product must have non-slip pads for the user to lay or stand on.The product must have cushions for the victim to grab comfortably.

49

Rescue buoy

The product should be symmetrical on both uper and lower parts in order to have equivalent function re-gardless which side faces up in the water.The product should have two fins in order to maneuver it.The product should have a U-shaped opening allowing the victim to fit into, grab, or lie upon.The product should be smaller than 23” wide x 24” long x 4” thick.The narrowiest part of the U-shaped opening should be bigger than 12 inches.The opening space should be bigger than 12x14 inches.The product should have an opening allowing users to easily access the product.The product should provide enough bouyancy for users over 300lb.The product should have two connecting points to fasten two polyproplene ropes.The connecting points should incorporate stainless steel rings to reinforce the fastening structure.The product should have different colors on both sides.The product shoud be able to move stably on the water surface.

Rope system

The rope must be 1/4” diameter polypropylene braided rope.The rope should be 100-150 feet long.The rope system should have two carabiner-like mechanisms to connect it to the boat railing.The rope system should be able to flip without disconnecting from the boat railing.

Rescue line

The rescue line must be able to float on the water’s surface.The rescue line should be a vivid color.

50


The lighting system should be bright enough for rescuers to see it at night.The signal light should last over 24 hours. The carabiner-like mechanism should able to withstand over 1200lb of break strength.

Usability / Interface requirements

The product should provide the user with information about how to operate and maintain the product.

Performance Requirements

The rescue buoy should provide 35 lbs of buoyancy.The signal light should last over 24 hours.

51

Competitive AnalysisThe common rescue equipment that recreational boaters have.

LifeRing

Rescue distance: 32 feetProvides floatation: YesRetractable: NoPrice: $103

Considerations: The rescue distance is limited by the rescuer’s energy. Requires practice to increase accuracy.Not for unconscious people or nonswimmers

Rescue distance: 65 feetProvides floatation: YesRetractable: YesPrice: $139

Considerations: The rescue distance is limited by the rescuer’s energy. Requires practice to increase accuracy.Not for unconscious people or nonswimmers.Not for high wind environments.

Life Saver

52


Rescue distance: 50 feetProvides floatation: NoRetractable: YesPrice: $45 Considerations: The rescue distance is limited by the rescuer’s energy. Requires practice to increase accuracy.Not for unconscious people or nonswimmers.Doesn’t provide buoyancy for victims.

Life Line Rescue Throw bag

Rescue distance: 130 feetProvides floatation: NoRetractable: YesPrice: $70

Considerations: Requires practice to increase accuracy.Not for unconscious people or nonswimmers.Not provide buoyancy for victims.

Balcan Emergency Life Line

Rescue distance: 250 feetProvides floatation: NoRetractable: YesPrice: $600

Considerations: Not for unconscious people or nonswimmers.Not provide buoyancy for victims.Expensive

Speed Line

53


Considerations: Requires practice to increase accuracy.Not for unconscious people or nonswimmers.Don’t retract victim

Rescue Stick


Considerations: The rescue distance is limited by rescuer’s energy. Requires practice to increase accuracy.Not for unconscious people or nonswimmers.Don’t retract victim

Horseshoe Buoy

Rescue distance: 40 feetProvides floatation: YesRetractable: YesPrice: $120

Considerations: The rescue distance is limited by the rescuer’s energy. Requires practice to increase accuracy.Not for unconscious people or nonswimmers.

Lifesling

54


Personal Flotation Device (PFD) Analysis

Type 1 PFD

Off-Shore Life jacket

Advantages :

Disadvantages :

Best for open, rough or remote water, where rescue may be slow coming.

Floats the user better than other PFD.Turns most unconscious wearers face-up in water.Highly visible color.

Bulky, uncomfortable.

Type 2 PFDNear-Shore Life jacket

Advantages :

Disadvantages :

Good for calm, inland water, or where there is a good chance of fast rescue.

Less bulky.Turns some unconscious wearers face-up.More comfortable than Type I PFD.

Not for long hours in rough water.Will not turn unconscious wearers face-up.

55

Type 3 PFDFloatation Aid

Advantages :

Disadvantages :

Good for calm, inland water, or where there is a good chance of fast rescue.

Generally, the most comfortable type.Designed for activity marked on the device.Available in many vest styles.

May have to tilt head back to prevent floating with face-down position.Wearer’s face may be covered by waves.Not for extended survival in rough water.

Type 4 PFDThrowable Device

Advantages :

Disadvantages :

For calm, inland water with heavy boat traffic, where help is always nearby.

Can be thrown to someone.Good back-up to wearable PFDs.Some can be used as a seat cushion.

Not for unconscious persons.Not for nonswimmers or children.Not for many hours in rough water.

56


Type 5 PFD

Special Use Device

Advantages :

Disadvantages :

Made for specific activities.Least bulky of all types.High flotation capability when inflated.Good for continuous wear.

May not adequately float some wearers unless partially inflated.Requires active use and care of inflation chamber.Required to be worn to be counted as a regulation PFD.

Only for special uses or conditions. Equal to either Type I, II, or III performance as noted on the label.

57

Pounds of Buoyancy

How can a PFD with 22 pounds of buoyancy hold up a 200 pound person in the water?

Approximately 80% of the human body is water. Water in the body has no weight in the water

On average, the human body has 15% fat and fat is lighter than water.

200 lbs. X 80% = 160 lbs.

200 lbs.- 160 lbs. = 40 lbs.

200 lbs. X 15% = 30 lbs.

40 lbs.- 30 lbs. = 10 lbs.

So, a 200 pound person only weighs about 10 pounds in the water. The 22 pounds of buoyancy in the PFD is more than enough to keep the person afloat.

WATER 80%FAT 15%

58


By research the currerent rescue equipment, there are four color options which provide hightist contract and visibility in the darkenviroment.

Red

Orange

Yellow

White

Color options

Color Study

59

DesIGN PRocess

60



ELECTRONIC JET MOTORAIR CHAMBER

CONTROL HANDLE

SAFETY HANDLE

NON-SLIP PAD

STRAP

FLOATATION BUOY

RUBBER CUSHION

RUBBER CUSHION

FLOATATION BUOY

RESCUE LINE

LAUNCH BUTTON

61

INFLATEDCARRYING POSITION

FLOATING POSITION

NYLON WEBBING STRAPS

AIR CHAMBERS

BACK VIEW SIDE VIEW

INFLATEDFLOATING POSITION

NYLON WEBBING STRAPS

AIR CHAMBERSBACK VIEW SIDE VIEW CARRYING POSITION

ELECTRONIC JET MOTOR

CONTROL HANDLE

RUBBER

RESCUERVICTIM

62



63

64


Design Concept

BOAT MOVEMENT

CURRENT

The most common emergency situation for recreational boating is when a person falls overboard. My concept is to deploy the rescue device before approaching the victim.Therefore, when the boat is near the victim the rescue device is already in the water ready to rescue the drowning victim.This rescue device not only increase the rescue distance but also shorten the rescue time.

Increase the rescue distance and area.

RESCUE DEVICE

65

MOVEMENT

WIND

This concept uses a similar theory as flying kites.

66


Design ConceptIncrease the rescue distance and area.

RESCUE AREA

RESCUE AREA

67

Concept ResearchIn order to design a rescue device which can deflects the water and moves on the water surface, I study surving and water ski to learn how the user operate the equipment.

Possible related water sports:• Surfing• Water ski

68


The design features of existing water equipment are possible be apply on my design.

• Surfboard (Long/Short)• Paddle board• Water ski board• Fin designs

Concept Research

69

coNcePt DeVeLoPMeNt• Ideation

• Refine

• Finding

• Testing

• Mockups

70


Concept DevelopmentIdeation sketches

71

Mockups

Test the function by understaning how the different shapes and sizes of the fin effects its performance.

72


Mockup Testing / User Feedback

• The size of the product is too big.

• The product should be horseshoe shaped for the victim to wear.

Concept Development

The mockup moves out.

73Compare the mockup with existing product to understand the size limitation.

74


Refine Mockup and Testing

Key Finding

• The size of fin should be bigger than 18x1.5 inches.

• Understand the geometrical relationship between fin and pulling point.

1/4

FIN

PULLING POINT

Concept Development

75Control the mockup by two ropes

76


Concept DevelopmentIdeation Sketches

77

78


Mockup Testing and Feedback

• Could have bigger back support

• Should have larger opening for users

• Should have longer armrests

• Every edge should be rounded

Concept Development

79

80



81

82


Mockup Testing and Finding

• When the opening faces the current, it catches too much water and decreases performance.

• The mockup doesn’t have enough buoyancy to float device completely.

Concept Development

83This mockup moves to the middle of the river.

84


Concept Development

Change the orientation of the opening.

Ideation Sketches

85

Mockups

In this mockup the orientation of the opening changes to face sidewise in order to fit different size od users.

86



• Changing the opening to the side could increase the size of opening space to fit different users.

• Could design the surface to prevent catching too much water.

• Could have a secure strap to prevent victim falling out from the opening during the rescue process.

Concept Development

87This mockup moves out further than previous mockup.

88



89

Mockups

In this mockup the position of fin is changed in order to balence the weight.

90


• The fin could be integrated into the shape to provide comfort to the user.

• The shape could be more hydrodynamic in order to increase its stability when it is moving on the water.


Concept Development

91This mockup moves faster than previous mockups.

92


Concept Development

Integrate the fin desing into the body.

Ideation Sketches

93

Mockups

This mockup is to test the limit requirement of the size of the fin and observe how the surface deflects the water.

94


Mockup Testing

Concept Development

The mockup moves parallel with the boat.

95

96


Concept Development

Integrate the fin desing into the body completely.

Ideation Sketches

97

Mockups

This mockup is to test the performance of the fin concept into the overall shape.

98


• This mockup shows the best performance.

• The opening space is big enough to fit different users

• The back support is enough to support the victim comfortably.


Concept Development

99The mockup came close to reaching the other side of the river.

100


Appearance Mockup

Concept Development

101

Handle, Ropebag, Development

102


Mockup Testing

Concept Development

Testing the handle attatch to the railing.

103Test the handle system on the river.

104


Studies were conducted to understand how the user can operate the device without any instruction.

105

106


Main body

Design Refinement

107

108


Rope Bag and Carabiner

Design Refinement

109

FINaL DesIGN

110


Design DetailThe surface deflects water to help the device be navigating on the water.

High reflective tape increases visual contact during the rescue process.

111

The rope attachment hole secures the rope tie on the device.

The grove stabilizes the rope from rotating.

The bumper is designed to protect the device during handling.

112


The narrow rope holes increase the friction to stabilize the rope.

The strap allows the rescuer to hold the bag more easily.

The rope bag stores and prevents tangling the rope.

113

The handle helps the rescue to retrieve to rope easier.

The carabiner connects on the railing and provides a strong connection between the device and the boat.

114


3D Model

115

116


Rope Bag

Carabiner

Handle

Rescue Rope

Nylon Strap

Draw String

117

118


119User scenario

120


Physical Model

121

122


123

124


Use Case

1 2 3

7 8 9

The boat is moving in a high wave and high wind open water.

The rescue device can float on the water surface and provides buoyancy to the victim.

A passenger falls overboard accidentally.

The rescue device deflects water and moves out from the side of the boat.

The victim is floating in the cold water and still ingesting water.

The rescuer controls and the boat makes the device close to the victim. The victim can grab the device or rescue rope.

125

4

10 11 12

5 6The boat keeps moving until there is enough room and turns the boat to approach the victim.

The victim can hold the device or wear the device to float themselves on the water surface.

The rescue device is hanging on the railing at the back of the boat.

The rescuer retrieves the rope and pulls the victim close to the boat.

The rescuer throws the rescue device into the water.

If the deck is too high, the rescuer can tie the rope and keep the victim away from the water to prevent hypothermia until the rescue team arrives.

126


Exploded ViewHigh Reflective Plastic Tape

Plastic Line Stopper

HDPE

Aluminum

Aluminum

Urethane Foam

Nylon Webbing Strap

Aluminum Grommet

Urethane Foam

127

Bill Of Material (B.O.M)

Parts Material Quantity Price/Each TotalBody $8.25

$0.3

$4

$0.72

$1.2

$0.15

$19.5

$3.2

$1.5

$10/cubic ft

$0.463/lb

$1.6/2yd x1 inch

$0.13/ft

$0.003/square inch

$0.05/square inch

$0.4/lb

$0.4/lb

$0.3/item

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

4

Urethane Foam

HDPE

Nylon webbing strap

Polypropylene

Polyester

Aluminum

Aluminum

Aluminum

Plastic

Body

Strap

Rope

Rope bag

Handle

Carabiner

Grommet

Reflective Tape

Approximately $38.82

Retail Price: $194

128


OrthographicMain body

20 inches

4.8 inches

25 inches

129

20 inches3 inches

4.8 inches

6 inches

Handle

130


6 inches

6 inches

14 inches

10 inches

OrthographicRope bag

131

6 inches

3.5 inches

0.5 inches

6.5 inches

Carabiner

132


ReFeReNceBooks

• Lifeguarging

• U.S. Coast Guard addendum

• Making it

• Transmaterial

• U.S. Coast Guard rescue manual

• Manufacturing processes for design professional

133

• Boating Statistic

• Man overboard procedures and device

• Water rescue

• Lifeguarding

• United states lifesaving association

• Shropshire rescue service

• Man overboard gear

• Swift water rescue

• Team lifeguard systems

• Boating basic

• Personal flotation device & lights

• Limitation of rotational molding

• Code of federal regulation

http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/default.aspx

http://monitor.hubpages.com/hub/Man-Over-Board

http://wn.com/water_rescue

http://www.boat-ed.com/al/handbook/boatemergency.htm

http://faculty.deanza.edu/donahuemary/Lifeguardingreviewquestionschapter5

http://www.usla.org/

http://www.shropshirefire.gov.uk/the-emergency-service/rescue-service/water-safety/training

http://www.myboatsgear.com/newsletter/20061118b.asp

http://cbrocato.home.comcast.net/~cbrocato/Water.htm

http://www.teamlgs.com/

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg5214/pfd-lights.asp

http://www.firstratemold.com/about-us/newsshows/815-limitations-of-rotational-molding-and-material-requirements.html

http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/

http://www.blue-reed.com/Rotational-Molding-Design.pdf

http://europe.seascout.org/eurosea/10/presentations/Belgium-SOLAS_Chapter_V.pdf

http://www.he-alert.com/documents/published/HE00085.pdf

Websites

Documents

• Part Design and tooling of Rotational Molding

• SOLAS Regulation

•

134

