WHEEBO
Creating a new, exciting and enjoyable water-based experience.
ABOUT
In a collaboration between Design Factory Melbourne, Kyoto Institute of Technology and Japan-based company Yanmar, a team of students were challenged to come up with a new water-based experience for leisure. Their final design was a jet-powered platform which floats on the water and can be easily manoeuvred, no matter the skill level of the user.
The Wheebo, an omni-directional, jet-powered platform, allows the user to turn with a simple shift of weight or change of tilt on the water.
PROJECT IMPACT
Yanmar Co., Ltd. released a press release announcing the development of “Wheeebo” a marine activity that provides new and exciting waterside experiences. This product is based on the prototype developed by students from Kyoto Institute of Technology and Swinburn University of Technology and Yanmar Co., Ltd. for the subject “Development of an Intuitive Smart Machine that Connects People and Water” from ME 310/SUGAR 2016 – 2017.
For more details click here.
THE TEAM
THE PARTNER
Japanese engineering company Yanmar’s core business sits in the development of diesel engines, agricultural machinery, power generation, construction equipment and marine vessels. Recognising that the future is shifting to renewable technologies and to electric powered systems Yanmar are looking further into the complexities of their individual markets to identify new product opportunities in order to stay competitive.
CHALLENGE
Yanmar challenged the team to create an entirely new and exciting water-based experience. Existing water sports such as surfing and wakeboarding can be difficult to master and require practice, so the team was tasked with developing a new water-based experience.
SOLUTION
The team created a solution called ‘Wheebo’, an omni-directional, jet-powered platform which allows the user to turn with a simple shift of weight or change of tilt. The simplicity of the interaction and stability of the machine delivers a fun activity that is accessible to people of all levels of water experience.
Through iterative prototyping, the team delivered a final prototype that included:
-Round platform with a central rotating jet underneath that allows the users to ride standing, sitting, or lying down.
-Bluetooth connected wristband to control the speed of the Wheebo
-Mobile app (connected via bluetooth) that customizes the Wheebo by adjusting the stability and sensitivity of the direction change sensors.
Yanmar Co., Ltd. released a press release announcing the development of “Wheeebo” a marine activity that provides new and exciting waterside experiences. This product is based on the prototype developed by stdudents from Kyoto Institute of Technology and Swinburn University of Technology and Yanmar Co., Ltd. for the subject “Development of an Intuitive Smart Machine that Connects People and Water” from ME 310/SUGAR 2016 – 2017.
More details from below link.
Wheeebo｜YANMAR
https://www.yanmar.com/global/wheeebo/?fbclid=IwAR338pN5qcK4_Rm2gUL1TstMj-XbbMTpI07Tv0UErZBYCWvQ1SvB9XNOOyg