Flying Underwater, A Blast From The Past

[trux]

You are certainly right, but even if the patent is already expired, it does not give the right to DARPA claiming it is their invention (as they do) and not even mentioning the original inventor in their documents. Let's aside the fact that they shamelessly grabbed a ~$3M grant for the "invention" from taxpayers' pockets. Although it seems to be pretty legal and common practice in the USA as well as in all other countries with corrupt governments (it means probably almost the entire Earth), it does not mean people should keep their mouth shut when they notice such a scam.

[ricki]

DARPA's device has been featured in the November 2007 Popular Mechanics.

Navy SEALs PowerSwim - DARPA Device - Efficient Swimming - Aquaman - Popular Mechanics



The article is reminiscentt of one carried by Popular Science THIRTY-THREE YEARS AGO in June 1974 about what appears to be a remarkably similar device, the Aqueon.



It is reported that DEKA may have received $2,809,407.00 of taxpayer money for the following:

PowerSwim: A Novel Concept for Combat Swimmers

Technical objectives of this effort including the technology areas in which the project was conducted:

Combat swimmers are currently limited to speeds of 1 knot in order to maintain a sustainable caloric burn rate over a period of hours. This speed limit constrains mission planning and prevents missions in some strong tidal areas. Additionally, the maximum mission length is limited to 4 hours due to fatigue and hypothermia, limiting maximum mission distances to 4.5 miles. Placing more propulsive power in the hands of combat swimmers will raise speeds, increase range and carrying capacity, increase mission options and tempo, and deliver a more alert and effective operator on target. This proposal outlines a program to develop a device that will use advanced oscillating foil technology to enable combat swimmers to literally ‘fly’ through water like efficient swimmers in nature. The concept will be evaluated by measuring the metabolic costs of swimming with conventional fins and then with the oscillating foil device over a range of swimming speeds. Program success will be measured in terms of the reduction in the metabolic cost of swimming at a given speed, and by demonstrating a dramatic increase in the swimmer’s maximum sustainable rate of speed.

(Continued on page 132 at:
http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/policy/a...rt20060130.pdf)

The Secretary of Defense is required to submit a report (including the above text) annually to the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services.


Cal Gongwer acquired a Patent** for such a device in 1971 (now lapsed) with remarkable similarities to Powerswim. It was indicated that parties involved in the Powerswim project met with Cal Gongwer, the 92 year old inventor of the Aqueon on several occasions. Cal even reportedly hosted "pool parties" at his home during which the Aqueon was demonstrated to and evaluated by these parties. Cal undertook these efforts in the hope of securing a contract related to the concept. Sadly, no such contract was forthcoming nor apparently even mention of his pivotal efforts in creating the Aqueon.

Ignoring obvious similarities, if the Aqueon was of no significance in the "development" of PowerSwim: A Novel Concept for Combat Swimmers, why was Cal Gongwer reportedly bothered on repeated occasions in this regard? Why was his involvement and a decades long commitment in the promotion of this concept apparently not mentioned in published information pertaining to this project?

You can checkout Cal's performance data from 30 to 35 years ago that seems to comply with aspects of what the DOD was looking for in the referenced document from 2005. I understand this data was developed during a demonstration to the Navy at a military test facility. Innerspace Corporation.Thrusters,Hydraulic Motors,Screens

You can examine the decades old Aqueon brochure at: Innerspace Corporation.Thrusters,Hydraulic Motors,Screens


** Patent 3,802,008 United States Patent: 3802008

[ricki]

As an aside, I think they may to have to go back to the drawing board on Powerswim to reconsider the mode of attachment to the diver. The 55 year old Aqueon concept allows the diver to instantly and easily pop both legs out. If I were a SEAL on a mission, I wouldn't be comfortable with being unable to separate from the unit very rapidly. The diagrammed "rings" and contoured calf plates shown in previous photos may not release the diver all that easily depending on how they are configured. The plates look comfortable, the rings on the other hand appear to be potentially painful in the extreme based on time using the Aqueon. Wonder if they've been T&E'ed yet, perhaps not. On the other hand, details are lacking on this point in what information is currently available.

[ricki]

If you are concerned about fair play and have a moment, why not drop an email to some of the members of the U.S. Senate Committee On Armed Services. If you live in the district of one of the Committee members, even better.

I have no cash interest in this, have only spoken with Cal on the phone and have yet to meet the man. Still, I admire what he has done, have enjoyed his device for decades, understand the commitment and sacrifice in trying to build and promote something like this, perhaps before its time. He deserves better in my opinion than what has transpired. A better device may come from this effort as well, that we may be able to use in time.

Something like the following might be used in the emails:



Senator ??? ,

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I wanted to bring something to your attention. It involves spending of almost $3 Million taxpayer dollars for the development of a "Novel" military swimmer delivery device.**

The device doesn't appear to be "Novel" at all but looks to be virtually identical in concept and function to a device patented 33 years ago! The inventor of that device was consulted on several occasions by project staff but his contribution to the project was neither compensated nor apparently recognized in this project. This adoption of existing technology doesn't appear to warrant the expenditure of almost $3,000,000.00 in these tight times. More about this situation appears at: forums.deeperblue.net/freediving-equipment/72588-flying-underwater-blast-past-4.html

Suitable recognition of Cal Gongwer,the original inventor of this remarkable design (conceived 55 years ago!) is warranted at a minimum in my opinion. Cal invested decades of time, capital and passion in the promotion of this concept in various parts of the world. The idea may have been presented before its time. Today appears to be a different matter. Cash considerations would be appropriate as well considering where the "Novel" concept was first developed and subsequent consultations with project staff.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
(Your name)

** Title: PowerSwim: A Novel Concept for Combat Swimmers
Agreement Number: W911NF-05-9-0002
Awardee: DEKA Research & Development Corp.



There are many other variants that you might use of course.


Links to contact information for the Chairman, Lead Member and other Committee Members appear at:

Committee on Armed Services




Thanks for taking the time to think this over and hopefully, send off a few emails.

[cdavis]

Email sent to Bill Nelson. Thanks for doing the legwork.

Connor

[ricki]

Great Connor, thank you! I sent one to Senator Nelson as well, he has been pretty active on a number of issues (e.g. blocking an attempt to shut down direct public access to the National Weather Service including hurricane info by the Weather Channel, Accuweather, etc.,)

I appreciate folks taking the time to do this. It isn't a very common thing to have free diving cross over into national politics and defense contracting. We might be able to do some good.

[ricki]

There is an interesting post related to this thead on the Popular Mechanics website dealing with "powerswim":

32. RE: Navy SEALs Could Turn Superhuman with Pentagon's PowerSwim
This really is a fleecing of taxpayer money. Apparently this was funded under white paper solicitation submitted by DEKA to the Defense Sciences Office for Research and Technology. I looked up the program objectives, scope and funding which identifies how contracts are awarded for high-risk/high-payoff research initiatives. It clearly states "proposals for the integration of existing technologies or development of systems will be considered out of scope and will not be evaluated". Rehashing the Aqueon for $2.8 million seems to be in clear violation of the DSO guidelines. I think DEKA duped the DSO. The white paper needed to "clearly state the uniqueness of the idea presented in the context of the existing state of the art in the technical area of interest". Given the product DEKA developed, it would appear they either miserably failed to do what they were contracted to develop, or the proposal was blatant fraud from the beginning. I'm inclined to think it was the later. I want my money back!
Navy SEALs PowerSwim - DARPA Device - Efficient Swimming - Aquaman - Popular Mechanics

Didn't think fraud might have been involved just laziness. Looks like I may have been premature in that conclusion. If you have time, why not send some emails out to the committee members as described above this post?

[ricki]

Not sure much developed in Washington regarding Powerswim. Thanks for your efforts in any case, it was worth a shot.

Just put up some wreck diving photos from the Bahamas of the Aqueon in action at:
Photo Of The Day!!! - Page 9 - FKA Kiteboarding Forums

As an aside, I heard a free diver set what likely is a depth record for the Aqueon of 45 m while experimenting with the unit. Way to go!


Rick


.

[Gunnar]

Can't seem to find the pic. Registered on the other forum, nut still no pic.
Can you post the pic in here?

Cheers

[ricki]

Sorry for the trouble you are having. The other forum doesn't require registration to see posts only to make them. Not sure why you are having access problems. Come to think of it, the Aqueon in Bimini post was rolled on to page 10 from 9, perhaps that was it. The link is:

Photo Of The Day!!! - Page 10 - FKA Kiteboarding Forums

There are five images, actually six including another post on diving in the Caymans on the same page. One of the photos appears below:

[Gunnar]

Thanks ricki,

the second link worked. Nice pics!

Cheers

[ricki]

I just spoke to Cal yesterday and he told me he has some Aqueons available at $450. plus shipping.

More info at:
sales@INNERSPACETHRUSTERS.COM

[Tom Lightfoot]

I had my aqueon out just this past weekend. It's nice to have that sensation of power again.

I have a few videos and commentary on the aqueon on my personal website:
Aqueon | Tom Lightfoot's Home Site

Tom

[ricki]

Glad you are getting out there Tom. Looking forward to reading and seeing more about your experiences with the Aqueon.

I noticed another propulsion device on your site, the Dol-fin. How was the thrust with that, did it turn fairly easily?

It reminds me of yet another swimming device, the Lunocet. Has anyone spent much time diving with the Lunocet? If so, it would be good to learn about your impressions of the device.

Thanks!

[trux]

I am a lucky owner of the Aqueon since last year too, but unfortunately did not yet have chance to use it a lot. In fact I did only one test run in a pool, and then once in open water. I plan playing with it more this summer. I have a question for you guys, though - I had pretty hard time doing efficient immersions. Trying to get submerged took a lot of energy and time, so my down times were cut quite short due to this inability. Do you have some tips for me?