Module 3 - Fabrication Inflatable component initial ideas
Figure 3.0 Life jacket commonly used on aircraft. <No name. N.D. untitled Image. Accessed September 10 2013. https://www. sportys.com/source/images/jQzoom/12071.jpg >
The first idea for incorporating an inflatable structure to support our panel system was to use the rapid fill principle, similar to that in an aircraft life jacket. These life jackets work by puncturing a canister filled with co2. The gas expands to fill a bladder inside the jacket making it buoyant. We liked this idea as the bladder inflates almost instantly, this could work quite well in or shell/ shield idea to inflate very quickly during times when feeling threatened. Co2 cylinders are quite cheap, however they would have to be replaced after each use which would make the user less inclined to use the feature due to the setup requirements for them to use it.
ENVS10008 - Virtual Environments
Figure 3.1
Figure 3.2
Paintball gun air tank <No name. N.D. untitled Image. Accessed September 10 2013. http://www. actioncenterpaintball.com/images/products/2643.jpg >
Paper Balloon
The second idea we had was to use a portable air tank, similar to one used to power a paintball gun. Storing more air at a higher pressure means not only will the user be able to get more uses per tank than a small pressurised co2 tank but will inflate even quicker. The biggest problem with this idea is the added weight of carrying around a tank weighing a couple of kilos and the fact that paintball gun air tanks are very difficult to source in this country as private ownership of these weapons is illegal.
The third idea we had was to use a paper balloon, made using origami. This has several advantages over the previous two ideas. Firstly, this idea is much closely related to our main material system (panel and fold), this means the design will look more harmonised rather than having 2 completely different elements conflicting with each other. Secondly, these balloons do not require air pressure to keep them inflated due to the nature of the structure once unfolded. These balloons require a bit of effort to deflate however this gets easy as the paper wears.
Daniel Forrester 640358 Semester 2, 2013
Module 3 - Fabrication Inflatable component idea development
Figure 3.3
Figure 3.4
190 GSM paper balloon attempt.
regular 80 GSM paper, A3 paper balloon
After having trouble with regular paper not being able to cope with either rain or humidity we looked at assembling a balloon out of thicker paper (190 GSM). The thicker paper ought to fair better against bad weather however there were also a few problems with this. Firstly, the paper is incredibly hard to fold making it hard to neatly crease th paper when approaching the finished product. Secondly, the paper is rather weak along the crease lines (evident by the masking tape on the top of the balloon) and with repeated use the balloon would wear very quickly in comparison to regular paper.
ENVS10008 - Virtual Environments
After a successful A4 prototype, we decided to upsise to A3 to determine whether the structural integrity of the object would hold at larger scales, the A3 prototype is not quite yet big enough for the size we need for our design however the rigidity of this prototype makes an A2 prototype look promising. After having trouble with the A4 190 GSM prototype, it would probably be beneficial to attempt an A3 version to see whether the structural weaknesses translate on a larger scale.
Daniel Forrester 640358 Semester 2, 2013