The U. S. Navy is seeking novel survival rafts for Navy pilots that may have to ditch at sea. The technology currently utilized have inflated gas compartments, generally carbon dioxide, that provide the necessary buoyant forces to keep the raft and its pilot afloat. This foundational technology, (i.e., CO2 filled compartments) has not changed for 75 years. There are issues associated with this approach such as punctured chambers, difficulty in the deployment of the raft, a relatively larger size (in volume and weight) of the packaged pre-deployed raft, capsizing problems, and difficulties in boarding, to name a few. The proposed novel floatation platform completely does away with compressed gas buoyancy compartments and utilizes nanotechnology based ideas that will result in a raft that is lighter, smaller, simpler, easy to deploy, difficult to capsize, easier to board and lesser expensive. It is anticipated that this technology platform could greatly impact the survival life vest and raft industry.
Benefit: The benefits of this newly developed floatation platform will result in a raft system that is: - Easy to deploy and store, - Light weight, - Smaller size of life raft before deployment, when compared to current rafts, - Provides an excellent insulation to aviation survivors in the cold-water, - Tear resistance, and - Inexpensive due to simple uncomplicated design. Since the technology being developed is a totally novel approach for floatation platforms, it is anticipated that this floatation system will be applicable to many floatation related devices, such as, life vests, life boats for cruise ships, sail boats, and rescue operations, and new water crafts for military specialty forces and pleasure boating activities.
Keywords: Floatation platform, Floatation platform, life raft, Marine survival
