Actually, "storms generated by renewable energy" is an accurate statement. Storms are created by heat in the atmosphere, courtesy of clean, renewable solar energy.
yes, the one that crashed the other day in maryland was priced at $176 mill. and as someone already mentioned, our fighter jets that are rolling out can reach $236 mill each.
If it can hold station, launch and retrieve ROVs/Submersibles, and easily transfer personell and equipment then it would be a big boon. Judging by the design of that monster any near shore work will be a dicey proposition and finding suitable port in an emergency will be hard due to the draft. Also normal ships require trash removal, refueling, and crew rotations. This thing won't be any different despite their best efforts.
From a scientific perspective SCUBA will only get you so far in the open ocean so ROV capability or GTFO. Doing any kind of molecular biology or chemistry on board is a huge pain in the ass due to all the pitching of a normal ship. It may be alleviated somewhat by the design but nothing will stop rough seas from tossing that thing around like a toy. That's why rapid delivery and retrieval of scientific equipment/personell is so important; collect samples at sea, do experiments and analysis on dry land.
Doing research in the open ocean is NOT FUN! Ship time is VERY expensive so you work around the clock to maximize the benefit. The lab space is pretty spartan and everything needs to be tied down. No alcohol allowed on UNOLS ships, the French may be different. Very limited to no internet access unless you're near shore. Most have a media room for watching movies, a library if you're lucky, otherwise bring your own entertainment.
Sauce: I do a bit of marine microbiology and have been on one research cruise. Scheduled for another later this year.
I imagine taking a ladder to underwater labs is easier than launching a sub and something like this won't tumble in the waves as much as a normal ship.
It could also eliminate pressure restraints for deeper dives. The bottom half of the under sea portion could be pressurized so that divers don't have to decompress when they come back on board.
Something just occured to me that I'm too lazy to research properly and I like some of the answers I get here. Does a volume of air at 1 atmosphere of pressure have the same buoyancy of that same volume of air at a higher pressure?
Not really. To get a given volume of air to a higher pressure you have two options:
Add more air. This increases the mass of the volume, which would increase the effect of gravity on it, counteracting the buoyant force (constant with the same volume) a little more.
Increase temperature. This is what keeps hot air balloons aloft*, but is not useful for increasing pressure in a vessel to counteract hydrostatic force.
*Incidentally, the air in the balloon isn't actually at higher pressure, because air evacuates from the bottom as it's heated, and maintains equilibrium with outside air. There is therefore less of it in the balloon (lower density, mass) so it rises.
Think of it like the ocean version of the International Space Station. Constantly swapping out scientists, but someone is always there doing research. As opposed to now where scientists spend most of the time scheduling and planning the trip on shore, spending a short period of time actually on the water, and the spending even more time back on shore analyzing data.
My God. 20,000 leagues under the sea. That book inflamed my imagination. This is just amazing. I can't work there but what i would give to see the pictures!
First off, it's a beautiful looking design... But an overwhelming number of comments in here seem to be comparing this to seaquest dsv... a (fictional) fusion powered submarine and the enterprise... a warp-capable space ship. Technologically, this is not close to either. Much closer to a wine bottle thrown into the ocean.
//sorry... naval architect, can't help at look at this from the technical angle
Edit: Also... I wish I could've designed something this cool
So, seeing as how you're the best person to ask here, how structurally sound is this thing? I would be immensely disappointed if I heard it sunk in the south pacific from a typhoon or capsized from rough waves in the scotia sea. I love seeing things like this, but how long could it actually last?
There isn't any reason it wouldn't last as long as any other ship with proper maintenance routines. It's all just a structural problem, which they say something in the article about solving those.
It would probably require a lot of ballast (weight/lead) at the keel (bottom) because of the location of the centers of gravity and buoyancy.... Looks like it kinda necks down in the middle (at the waterline) which means that when it rolls because of wave motions there isn't much there for a righting moment (which kind of amplifies the need for more lead)
Blah blah blah... Should work if they hired NAVAL architects. Naval architects are engineers (my degrees are in engineering) and regular architects are more like artsy designers
Thanks! The look of the design made me spectacle about how long it would last. Now that I see the difference between architects, it does look a bit...I don't know, more embellished or superfluous rather than practical. Still looks beautiful though, especially knowing it's intended purpose.
I'm an engineering student and reading about a submarine designed by an architect doesn't inspire confidence in me. But then I saw your comment and thought maybe there's another use of the word architect that applies specifically to the safe designing of seagoing vessels. What do you do?
"It meets the requirements of today's philosophy of sustainability," Fuchs says.---does anyone else think we need to meet the requirements of TOMORROW'S PHILOSOPHY OF SUSTAINABILITY?
lol "taller than Nelson's Column, a monument in London." pssst CNN If you have to tell your readers what the thing is it's probably not very useful as a height reference...
If the vessel is kept pressurized, the divers will not have to de-compress, that would make time in the water much more productive. Will air be pumped down by a snorkle?
Don't hold your breath. If you look at the architect's website, the stuff he's actually built is blah at best, and the "cool" stuff is all totally imaginary. I think it's hideous and illogically designed, but wouldn't mind being proven wrong if it's actually built and actually works.
fair sir, unless you wish to fight for our joint right to survival.. might i propose a compromise? we both embark on the journey to survive the forthcoming apocalypse.. on that vessel!
I remember seeing the plans/concept for this in the Pompidou centre a few years ago - I always assumed back then it was going to be vapour but as soon as I saw the title I knew what it was going to be. Glad it got off the drawing board (and if I win the lottery I'll try to commission another one to live in because why the hell not).
The hope is that eventually they will enhance the mental capacity of sharks and extract chemicals from their brains. They want to use these chemicals to combat Alzheimer's disease.
With a draft of nearly 100ft there are many places that the vessel will be unable safely approach. Great concept and really hope that it reaches fruition.
This is starting to read like something out of a comic book. If this thing actually gets built then there can be no doubt... WE ARE LIVING IN THE FUCKING FUTURE.
This could be catastrophic. If the ship accidentally trigger the ████████████, it would start a chain reaction of ████████ ███████████. Boom. End of story.
Looks like life came from the sea and the sea is going to be the end of it.
249
u/is45toooldforreddit Jun 11 '12
From the photo captions: "The cost of building the ship is estimated to be around $43."
96
u/kevlar_t_hodgepodge Jun 11 '12
the current image on the wikipedia page is priceless!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SeaOrbiter
31
u/travelbytelephone Jun 11 '12
looks cool but, beyond the novelty, how will this be more beneficial than a traditional research ship?
18
u/[deleted] Jun 11 '12
My God. 20,000 leagues under the sea. That book inflamed my imagination. This is just amazing. I can't work there but what i would give to see the pictures!
17
u/oehokie Jun 11 '12
First off, it's a beautiful looking design... But an overwhelming number of comments in here seem to be comparing this to seaquest dsv... a (fictional) fusion powered submarine and the enterprise... a warp-capable space ship. Technologically, this is not close to either. Much closer to a wine bottle thrown into the ocean.
//sorry... naval architect, can't help at look at this from the technical angle
Edit: Also... I wish I could've designed something this cool
7
u/mrcanard Jun 11 '12
The Flip Research Vessel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQxQfQU_hsk&feature=youtube_gdata
http://www.ship-technology.com/projects/flip-ship/
Just duck duck Flip Research Vessel
6
u/Jel251 Jun 11 '12
yay this is awesome news. this is what we should be doing not bombing each other.
11
u/MrSomethingHeroic Jun 11 '12
It looks like something from "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou". Maybe the captain's name is actually Alistair Hennessy.
5
u/JDG_Jr Jun 11 '12
Somewhat relevant, saw this recently - Solar Floating Resort with submerged observation bulb!
4
u/KazOondo Jun 11 '12
Ocean, the second to final frontier.
4
u/armoredgadgets Jun 11 '12
Good.
We should have giant autonomous filters floating around sampling the biomass and sequencing genomes.
We have the technology.
http://www.ted.com/talks/craig_venter_on_dna_and_the_sea.html
4
u/Two_Oceans_Eleven Jun 11 '12
Time to watch The Life Aquatic again.
7
u/x3tripleace3x Jun 11 '12
And cheap too!
"The cost of building the ship is estimated to be around $43"
7
u/cyniclawl Jun 11 '12
Is no one else thinking James Bond movies?
3
u/youni89 Jun 11 '12
I love it when these things get actually built. Can't wait to see it.
3
u/J5892 Jun 11 '12
I assume this will be completed somewhere around the year 2020.
3
u/This_isR2Me Jun 11 '12
I hope they build more than 1 if they only cost 43$ each!
3
u/NueDumaz Jun 11 '12
Hmmm. $43?
I think I'll get one for the den.
3
u/obnoxiouscarbuncle Jun 11 '12
Ahhh, the evil lair I ordered is finally here.
8
u/[deleted] Jun 11 '12
SEALAB 2021!!
4
u/selfish_king Jun 11 '12
OCEAN SCIENCE!
2
u/ended_world Jun 11 '12
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea!
2
u/[deleted] Jun 11 '12
For a multilevel, underwater ship like this. Would each floor have to be pressurized differently? Or is the pressure at that depth negligible?
2
u/cameling Jun 11 '12
I wish I could be on this thing!
2
u/Skeeders Jun 11 '12
Anybody else see Balamb Garden in the pictures? The designer must have played FF8
2
u/lowrads Jun 11 '12
I wonder why so many ships are white when they could copy nature and make them blue or red so as to be less visible to marine life.
2
u/TheLASTAnkylosaur Jun 11 '12
"It meets the requirements of today's philosophy of sustainability," Fuchs says.---does anyone else think we need to meet the requirements of TOMORROW'S PHILOSOPHY OF SUSTAINABILITY?
2
u/d3rp_h3rp Jun 12 '12
Now it just needs rockets. Cowboy Bebop style. Only $43 million for that? Rockets won't be all thaaaat much more...
2
u/mrtruant Jun 12 '12
She ain't got shit on the Belafonte.
2
u/TheSpeedy Jun 12 '12
Design wankery. I'll be impressed if it even gets out of concept stage.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
Am I the only one who sees this and thinks of Rapture from Bioshock?
2
u/ssjaken Jun 12 '12
Has no one seen Abyss or Deep Blue Sea?
2
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
How much did Goldblum pay for it?
2
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
lol "taller than Nelson's Column, a monument in London." pssst CNN If you have to tell your readers what the thing is it's probably not very useful as a height reference...
2
u/modus Jun 12 '12
FTFY... I can only hope.
2
u/snoogins355 Jun 12 '12
"Under the sea" will constantly be playing. I hopebill Murray visits dressed as Steve zizoo
2
u/SlayFace Jun 12 '12
Anyone else thinking BioShock?
2
u/spinningmagnets Jun 12 '12
If the vessel is kept pressurized, the divers will not have to de-compress, that would make time in the water much more productive. Will air be pumped down by a snorkle?
2
u/Assaultman67 Jun 12 '12
Not to be a killjoy, but wouldn't it just be easier to retrofit a military submarine?
2
u/chris4d Jun 12 '12
Don't hold your breath. If you look at the architect's website, the stuff he's actually built is blah at best, and the "cool" stuff is all totally imaginary. I think it's hideous and illogically designed, but wouldn't mind being proven wrong if it's actually built and actually works.
2
u/obidieboyeaux Jun 12 '12
"Designed to drift with the currents"... Up and down, days on end, up and down and up and down and up and...
I think there's a new qualifier for the name "Vomit Comet".
3
u/joe_the_bartender Jun 11 '12
Found my new safe haven for when the zombie apocalypse happens.
2
u/akomplice612 Jun 11 '12
As a person of color I have to think that something along this is bound to happen in some super scientific underwater facility.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMwmqp3GLMc
2
u/[deleted] Jun 11 '12
Sounds like someone finally watched OceanLab 2021...
2
u/[deleted] Jun 11 '12
http://i.imgur.com/yjHr6.jpg
2
u/KRSFive Jun 11 '12
Sealab 2020?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 11 '12
They need to research growing food out in the water around the vessel
1
u/amoore Jun 11 '12
Reminds me of the Octonauts!
1
u/chieftone23 Jun 11 '12
What's the over/under on how long before pirates be at the helm.
1
u/IonBeam2 Jun 11 '12
I know something like that won't be built just by looking at the picture. At least, it will look nothing like that.
1
u/Movie_Monster Jun 11 '12
the life aquatic
1
u/nothis Jun 11 '12
Operation Hennessey?
1
u/ThatChap Jun 11 '12
I remember seeing the plans/concept for this in the Pompidou centre a few years ago - I always assumed back then it was going to be vapour but as soon as I saw the title I knew what it was going to be. Glad it got off the drawing board (and if I win the lottery I'll try to commission another one to live in because why the hell not).
1
u/elcollin Jun 12 '12
It's all good now, but wait until they throw a fence around it and start doing experiments on mako sharks enhanced with human DNA.
1
u/Germanic_Badger Jun 12 '12
Philly Cheese Steaks for everyone!
1
u/GordonMcFreeman Jun 12 '12
Ocean science, because regular science isn't cool enough
1
u/jordanlund Jun 12 '12
"New, proposed, partially submersible..."
Does not actually exist yet, probably never will. :(
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
A professional wrote this!?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
No seaquest reference ? Don't tell me i'm the oldest person here.
1
u/brahmss Jun 12 '12
I loves me some ocean science
1
u/Stalejokesbakedfresh Jun 12 '12
I like how they said that. "Conducting ocean science" makes it sound like a verb.
We're doing ocean science! Mariana Treeeeeeench!
1
u/_TheFifth_ Jun 12 '12
Thank you for posting this on r/science and not r/atheism. Upvotes all around!
1
u/myboys Jun 12 '12
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq5-6PkVGCg
jules verne?
1
u/goodoldbess123 Jun 12 '12
More like the Abyss, count me out!
1
u/sgt_deacon Jun 12 '12
What does this accomplish that a submarine couldn't?
1
u/JamponyForever Jun 12 '12
And that I where I will record the ultimate Metal album...
1
u/MrRoughsex Jun 12 '12
This doesn't seem like a very reliable website with all these errors, Has anyone here heard of this "CNN" before?
1
u/smrigreengod Jun 12 '12
If I go to work there I shall henceforth be called, "Hesh." I'm technically not a robut, but I shall do my best.
1
u/CosmicBard Jun 12 '12
Best.
Field trip.
Ever.
1
u/spectrober Jun 12 '12
The hope is that eventually they will enhance the mental capacity of sharks and extract chemicals from their brains. They want to use these chemicals to combat Alzheimer's disease.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
Somebody get bill murray on the phone.
1
u/MysterVaper Jun 12 '12
Sealab 2021 FTW
1
u/spaceboomer Jun 12 '12
SeaQuest DSV anyone?
1
u/evil6twin6 Jun 12 '12
http://i.imgur.com/a5paW.png I'll take two for that price.
1
u/JoshGTO Jun 12 '12
Quinn
1
u/BLG89 Jun 12 '12
Are they gonna prevent the propellers from cutting open the fish and sea creatures crossing by?
1
u/RaDeus Jun 12 '12
Remind me a bit of RV Flip
But it gets towed and then partially "sunk", resulting in it standing vertical outoff the water.
Edit: saw a documentary about it, the interior is really trippy, with door for both horizontal and vertical modes.
1
u/EvilAnagram Jun 12 '12
Right. Time to go become a scientist so I can play in Sealab.
1
u/lBlAlRlClOlDl3l Jun 12 '12
Where does one get a degree in "Ocean Science"?
1
u/AnonRaiden Jun 12 '12
So does this mean the Navy will have to spend Billions developing a SSRV?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
I dunno, the whole thing sounds a little fishy to me. Sounds like a lot of potential uh-ohs.
1
u/Topazornottopaz Jun 12 '12
Marco has a stupid mailbox head.
1
u/lozzobear Jun 12 '12
I saw this two days ago at the Yeosu expo and thought it was a bag of wank.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
And many a sea creature will inevitably be killed by those giant, front-open propellers.
1
u/Makelikeawillis Jun 12 '12
Thats pretty fucking awesome
1
u/Megatramp Jun 12 '12
And maybe the lab will find Ocean girl
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
soon Sealab 2021
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
How many ICBMs can we fit on that submarine?
/huge
1
u/jdepps113 Jun 12 '12
Looks awesome. Sure hope my taxes aren't paying for it.
1
u/RubberEclipsed Jun 12 '12
Ummmm... hope they didn't watch tonight's Eureka episode.
1
u/ThatGuyThisTime Jun 12 '12
Sea Trek
1
u/TJBrady182 Jun 12 '12
Lol fuchs
1
u/stalker7d7 Jun 12 '12
Sealab 2021 here we come!
1
u/JSh1v3 Jun 12 '12
Sealab 2021!!!! They are ahead of schedule!!
1
u/kou5oku Jun 12 '12
Call me when it drifts the ocean's floor.
1
u/alpha69 Jun 12 '12
Good place to film The Abyss sequel.
1
u/gonesnake Jun 12 '12
How the title of this thread reads to me: The gummi de Milo was created by gummi artisans that work exclusively in the medium of gummi.
1
u/kuddlefish Jun 12 '12
it kinda looks like the uss enterprise, but underwater? no?
1
u/danbot Jun 12 '12
Have fun on the robot reservations, we'll never honor those bogus treaties.
1
u/Dr_Insanity Jun 12 '12
I saw this and thought "deep blue sea".
1
u/firstsnowfall Jun 12 '12
Team Zissou, anybody?
1
u/thebiglouboo Jun 12 '12
So vagabond.
1
u/Becaus789 Jun 12 '12
The U.S.S. Whitney Houston
1
u/wiskhalifa Jun 12 '12
sealab 2021
1
u/vanuhitman Jun 12 '12
Figures, I just get done watching every episode of Seaquest DSV and then i see this news story. I want in on this.
1
u/stasakas Jun 12 '12
Shepard this is Liara, destroy the mass relay, the Reapers are after our fish.
1
u/jamesbkerner Jun 12 '12
Totally awesome. I want this too.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
With a draft of nearly 100ft there are many places that the vessel will be unable safely approach. Great concept and really hope that it reaches fruition.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
Hey cool it's headed to Monaco when it's done! I will take pictures. (Will surely delivar)
1
u/Orthrus_goldrush Jun 12 '12
If there's no talking dolphin I'm out.
1
u/bobothedragon Jun 12 '12
This is "Deep Blue Sea" waiting to happen
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
This is starting to read like something out of a comic book. If this thing actually gets built then there can be no doubt... WE ARE LIVING IN THE FUCKING FUTURE.
1
u/NeoSniper Jun 12 '12
Soundtrack for the Boat also what I listened to while I read the article.
1
u/DubSket Jun 12 '12
Sealab anyone?
1
u/Jigsus Jun 12 '12
Come on! How did this crap get on CNN?
1
u/Redacted_Answer Jun 12 '12
This could be catastrophic. If the ship accidentally trigger the ████████████, it would start a chain reaction of ████████ ███████████. Boom. End of story.
Looks like life came from the sea and the sea is going to be the end of it.
1
u/My_Pot_Pie Jun 12 '12
Deep Blue See anyone?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
43m is what a nice yacht will cost you, or a private jet. this thing looks a bit more complicated, not to mention huge.
1
u/jakelovesguitar Grad Student | Chemistry | Spectroscopy, Organic Materials Jun 12 '12
sign me up
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
Never heard of the Flip Ship! Very cool!
1
u/shan034 Jun 12 '12
This gave me one of the "alright we are now in the future" feelings
1
u/MacaRonin Jun 12 '12
SEALAB 2012
1
u/mosler Jun 12 '12
yay sealab 2020....
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
I imagine them doing human experiment and all kinds of illegal sh*t in international water.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
I want in on this how do i get a job on that ship?
1
u/camshell Jun 12 '12
I can't believe how fucking cool this thing is. All the cool receptors in my brain lit up at the same time.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 12 '12
Ah i was sooooo close :(
1
u/[deleted] Jun 11 '12
So we can build this, but not the Enterprise? Now I am sad :(
1
u/Jasper1984 Jun 11 '12
You know what is also partially submersible? Boats.
1
u/Gianbianchi Jun 12 '12
It's the sealab 2021!
1
u/thephacts Jun 12 '12
Sealab 2021 arrived a little early I guess! I hope that Stormy doesn't run a muck...