Auckland design agency helps launch game-changing amphibious vehicle

Auckland-based Blender Design, has announced the release of a major project collaboration for Sealegs new amphibious milpro craft.

The new Sealegs product is a large format Amphibious Enablement System (AES) for boats up to 12m metres or 6500kg. Called Sealegs System 100, the new system is designed specifically with the military and professional (milpro) markets in mind, being three times larger than the existing Sealegs offering. The new amphibious enablement system ( System 100) has been f itted to a RC36 11m craft from US boat builder ReconCraft, a Sealegs OEM partner.

Blender was bought into the project in late 2013 when Sealegs approached them to complete some initial concept renderings and basic specification drawings.

Sealegs worked with engineering specialists, hydraulic engineers, naval architects and its own in-house team to work on the new larger amphibious system. Blender worked alongside these parties and with US-based ReconCraft boats to refine the visual and f unctional design from the early concept and started adding engineering details. decent pay. The fact we’re not training enough people in this area goes right back to secondary school. Students need to take the right subjects like maths and physics in order to be able to move into an engineering diploma or degree and it’s much better if they can understand the relevance of these subjects to jobs like engineering. This programme aims to address this.”

Fraser High School principal Virginia Crawford said that creating purpose and context in learning with a clearer line of sight between what a student learns at school and how it is connected to the engineering vocation is a game changer, while Fairfield College principal, Richard Crawford said the programme will connect his students to an engineering pathway that offers significant career opportunities.

“Next year will not be the final year of secondary school for these students, he said, “but the first year of a three-year programme that places them in the strongest possible position to achieve the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering in 2018.”

The results of the pilot programme will be evaluated at the end of 2017, with the aim of increasing the number of participating schools and students in 2018.

Blender was largely responsible for the overall visual impact design, as well as ergonomic and functional aspects working together with the other key collaborators. This included the decking layout, dashboard, cockpit, cabin, seating, f looring, as well as accessories. The larger visual and functional elements included the design of the Hydraulic Folding Radar Arch which holds all the electronic communications equipment and lights, along with the Hydraulic Retractable Boarding Ladder, both of which deploy at the push of a button and add highly functional capabilities and of course substantial ‘wow’ factor. These larger items were design projects in themselves and presented various technical challenges which had to be overcome.

During the prototype construction and assembly process Blender was responsible for incorporating various elements of the design, as well as providing various supporting materials for manufacture and marketing purposes, including assembly drawings, brochures, f lyers, 3D renders and animations.