The DeepSeaker DS1 flies over water thanks to foils and dives to 50 meters, is 100 percent electric, and is set to make its debut at Expo 2020. However, to get the first real prototype will have to wait until early 2021. The team behind this Italian project is called iSpace2O. The two founding partners are Giuseppe Carusi and Osvaldo Irace.
No tanks: you swim like fish
When diving, this vehicle does not need oxygen tanks for those inside to breathe. Like a fish (Technology Partner) has succeeded in developing technology to extract a breathable oxygen mix from seawater. These modules, about two per DeepSeaker, have a very low impact on energy.
How it works
A kind of submarine that when it returns to the surface can reach up to 30 knots thanks to foils. This is the “tesla”-style boat of the future that is poised to revolutionize the world of superyachts, its main target audience.
The team is Italian as are the electric motors supplied by Huracan Power for the “Standard” version. The boat will have two motors of 40 kW each coupled with a hydrojet system. Equipped with foils, it will reach a surface speed of 23-25 knots. With turbines from DeepSpeed (another innovative Italian startup), even 30 knots will be reached for the “Performance” version.
The batteries are state-of-the-art lithium-ion that will provide between 6 and 8 hours of battery life in the standard version, with the option of slow charging (dockside generator 8 hours) or fast charging (about 1 hour). In the “Performance” version, durability will be longer as more batteries can be taken on board thanks to the DeepSpeed, which is motor and thruster together and is located outside the boat (practically in the water).
On board
Being drivable without a license after taking a special course, Deepseaker is still a smart boat (or submarine). It can make decisions independently, such as if you descend to an unpermitted depth, stop your descent and return to a safe depth. If one continues, Deepseaker will interpret it as pilot illness, take the controls, and return to the surface. It also manages the speed and consumption of the batteries so as to avoid being left in the middle of the sea.
There are 4 seats on board DeepSeaker (for now) and it is equipped with digital dashboard and augmented reality (AR) systems for information management. But DeepSeaker’s AI will also be able to constantly monitor cabin vitals such as temperature, Co2 level, hull pressures, and decide to bring us back to the surface in case of an abnormality.
Price
The destination in the market? “It’s a kind of automobile (the Tesla of the sea). A multi-purpose vehicle to move around in comfort but also to experience adrenaline sensations, so we target mega yacht owners or luxury eco resorts for guided tours.”
The price is proportionate to the target audience of potential customers: from 950 to 1.2 million. Depending on the arrangements chosen.
