Hydro-pede

Concept design for fire hose advancer

Overview

Hydro-pede was the initial concept design in the development of the Fire Hose Crawler.
The design took inspiration from biomimetics, specifically the segmented locomotion of centipedes and millipedes, to create a modular crawler capable of traversing alongside and supporting a pressurised fire hose.

Contracted
Extended
Bent
Hydropede concept showing the coupler in its contracted, extended, and bent configurations.

Concept Design Requirements

  • Developing the chosen concept into an embodiment design compliant with engineering principles and design codes.
  • Identifying links to sustainable development goals (SDGs) and considering Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Access (EDIA) aspects.
  • Producing clear, well-presented concept sketches with annotations only.
Battery Pack
Modular
The Hydro-pede’s modular design allows it to be disassembled for transport and storage, with a dedicated portable battery pack enabling operation in remote locations.

Results

  • Grade: 95%
  • Feedback highlights:
    • Excellent concept presentation through sketches and clear mechanisms.
    • Areas for improvement:
      • Power cable management (exposed cable may deform or cause safety issues).
      • Hose threading mechanism could be automated for efficiency.
      • Larger wheels recommended to improve terrain handling.
    • The modular body design and integrated battery pack enhanced adaptability and ensured mobility in remote areas, reinforcing the practicality of the Hydro-pede concept.