Ready to throw your fins away?

[fishoutawater]

I ran across this and found it interesting:
Navy SEALs PowerSwim - DARPA Device - Efficient Swimming - Aquaman - Popular Mechanics

Just wondering if anybody here knows anything about this contraption and how the mechanism might work.

 

[mkutyna]

From the article:

Instead of kicking, PowerSwim calls for a kind of undulation as its hinged foils pivot up and down. Similar to the way a dolphin or tortoise pumps its fins, this motion generates both lift and thrust. And while artificial fins operate within the swimmer’s own wake (they form a kind of expanding cone, starting at a swimmer’s shoulders), the PowerSwim’s lead foil—or propulsor foil—sweeps through the water just outside that wake.

What more do you want to know about it?

 

[fishoutawater]

I'd actually like to see an orthographic representation of the linkage up close, and see exactly how it articulates.

 

[sharkattack]

Rather have a scooter

 

[muddiver]

Looks like a bunch of extra crap to get in the way.

 

[Thalassamania]

It's called an "Aqueon" it's been around a long time and every ten years or so there's another attempt to flog it:

 

[ianw2]

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/197422-powerswim-new-type-fin.html

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/195362-underwater-flight.html

 

[Garrobo]

I haven't seen anyone using such an apparatus but they would surely be elected president of the Dork Divers International if they came onto one of the boats I dive off of with something like that.

 

[Bobyjimmie]

Um looks sorta hard to sneak through the kelp with.

 

[Gombessa]

Um looks sorta hard to sneak through the kelp with.

And see the way the leading foil drops 2ft under the diver on each stroke? I can already hear the silt police readying the sirens!