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underwater drive

sea bottom hybrid newroader

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Drive into the sea . I propose a research vehicle which can be driven on sand and is atmospherically sealed to allow the vehicle to grip the beach out into the ocean . The vehicle would be able to service submerged data nodes , wave generation equipment and act as a observation / dive platform . Of course the newroader would be limited by geography versus offroading engineering .

'Dynamic' Ballast engineering would be eliminated (except for maybe an emergency float) . Standard dive tank equipment could do gas enviromentals . Hybrid battery technology could supply motive force when on the bed and internal combustion for out of water and charging . The more batteries the more weight . Engineering would get more complicated with a dive access port . Rovs and manipulators seem to be mature and bolt on technologies . The major engneering constraint would be sealing everything .

—	wjt, Oct 14 2008

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Underwater tracked ROVs exist - what is different here?

—	coprocephalous, Oct 15 2008

This vehicle would be manned and road legal for travel topside .

Yes, the bond film but the vehicle stays on the bottom .

Since size is not a factor , a bus or truck chasis could be modified for the terrain .This would give a bigger research platform volume . Oceanographic mapping would help in plotting the most unperturbed route . I am thinking about areas of beach that open to flat wide seabed with interesting features . Depth would be totally dependent on construction, materials and sealing levels .

—	wjt, Oct 15 2008

I like the idea of a Seabus taking kids on daytrips to the ocean floor. +

—	WcW, Oct 16 2008

//the vehicle stays on the bottom //Bottom composition varies from sand, to rocks to metres-deep ooze - with all shades in between.
//Since size is not a factor // Wanna bet? The bigger it is, they more buoyant it will be, so the more ballast you'll have to add.
//Ballast engineering would be eliminated // What does this mean?

—	DiveTart, Oct 17 2008

I'd question that the bottom is that flat to be used as a driving surface. My (fishing sonar) experience is that ocean bottoms have severe drop-offs that would be serious "road" hazards. Also you would have a serious environmental impact on the seabed that you drove thru.

—	MisterQED, Oct 17 2008

No matter how you travel there will be environmental damage . I was thinking the damage would be as much as someone taking a four-wheel drive trip into the bush .

'Right kids , Don't get worried . We are going to turn on the internal lights because we have to traverse this 5m deep bed of ooze made of composting microorganisms'

It is always easier to add weight (bolt on more gear) than to lose especially if you need strength . The weight would be constructed as slightly negative as to give downward grip but no so much as to be a stick in the mud .

The suspension engineering would not be as simple as a car because there is no road constructed but there are some very sophisticated rock climbing , four wheel drive vehicles that could act as a prototype .

I suppose it definitely would be a sea-monster truck . I wonder if many trips over the same route would eventually form a underwater road ?

—	wjt, Oct 19 2008

"Oh no, we've fallen down a hole."

—	david_scothern, Oct 20 2008

'Before we let the static ballast drop, kids . What do you think that is ? '

—	wjt, Oct 21 2008

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