Engineering

Strategy

Prove that our plan is viable by building a series of safe, cost-effective, gorgeous seasteads, culminating in a full-sized Coaststead based in the San Francisco Bay and able to travel offshore. Use it for publicity to grow the community, and as a platform for research.

Our 2008 engineering program is somewhat uncertain, as a lot will depend on hiring progress and what we learn from early conceptual studies.  Here is our tentative plan:

Details (2008)

  • Design PintStead (demonstrates stable flotation)
  • Build AquariumStead (demonstrates stable flotation)
  • Build PoolStead (demonstrates ballast control, stability, mobility, mating/synchronization)
  • Hire a Director of Engineering
  • Do conceptual design for seasteads (entire series, from baystead up to full ocean-going seasteads).  Figure out key issues - materials, shape, etc.
  • ? Design/Build Baystead (PoolStead equivalent for bay, can hold 1 person).
  • Complete design for CoastStead, be ready to build it 2009.

Prototype Progression

This is a very rough estimate of the progression of prototypes we'll need to get to our Coaststead target. We'll be filling in more details over time, and of course this list will probably change as we learn more.

  • ? PintStead: The smallest seastead, suitable for floating in a beer glass to start interesting discussions. Kits/models can be used as membership schwag, and to demonstrate the most basic stability characteristics.  Probably start as DIY instructions.  Someone want to add more detail to the wiki page?
  • AquariumStead: Similar, but bigger.
    • Goal: demonstrate basic stability characteristics of spar platform
    • Materials:
      • Uses 3/4" PVC Sprinkler Pipe for Spar
      • Slug of metal is used for ballast
      • Plastic is used for the upper structure
    • Customizable: the upper platform will be bare of decoration, allowing you to provide your own.  Ideally, people could do CAD designs of upper platform details so that anyone w/ access to a rapid prototyper could print out their favorite.  For example, one design could have solar panels and wind turbines, while another might feature anti-aircraft guns.
    • < $10 each
    • Fun!!!
  • PoolStead: Still plastic, but significantly larger. Can be taken into the Bay on calm days.
    • Uses 4" PVC Sewer Pipe for the Spar
    • Uses round steel plates for ballast
    • Has Acrylic plastic upper structure
    • Has two motors hooked up to RC Receiver for orientation
    • Has a pump for water ballast control
    • < $1000 each
    • Seriously fun!
  • Baystead 0.1 - First concrete structure in the Bay
    • First structure made from target seastead material (probably ferrocement).
    • Able to support 1 human
    • Not mobile
    • Buoyancy control is the only infrastructure.
  • ? Sea-levator
    • Simple device for fun, buoyancy / ballast demonstration (stability even with elevated topside load), and dealing with long spars, in the bay.
    • Uses some clever spar design (lays sideways, goes vertical through platform) to have 100' - 200' long spar. Only deployable in a few places in the bay.
    • Able to lift a few people up to 30' - 60' in height, for a great view of the bay.
    • Towable (not self-propelled)
    • Design is either a weighted spar, or a multi-column semisub
  • Baystead 1.0 - First useful, mobile structure (Useful for our Research program, hopefully other marine science research)
    • Mobile (self-propelled)
    • Buoyancy control
    • Maximum spar length suitable for Bay operation
    • Power, communications
    • ? Slide-through / detachable spar
  • Coaststead
    • Final demonstration model.  Example of "Sea RV" concept (A safe, comfortable, slow alternative to yachts.  A floating home that can go anywhere). Prototype for large ocean seasteads.
    • Features
      • Mobile, power, communications, water.
      • Roughly 2K-10K ft^2 space
      • Can travel up & down coast of US/Canada, and out into the Pacific.
      • Able to dock in SF Bay and other cities.  (To handle waves & docking will need a slide-through or detachable spar)
      • Pretty!
      • ? Can connect to Baystead 1.0 to demonstrate multi-platform system
    • Uses / Goals
      • Community
        • Inspire community with a concrete demonstration of the beauty and practicality of our ideas
        • Get publicity
        • Give regular tours (grow membership, charge non-members for tours)
        • Perk for members (free tours, free stays, take whole thing for a spin, depending on membership level)
      • Research
        • Learn technology (by building)
        • Learn legal realities of putting it in the bay (dealing with the BCDC), relevant to SeaRV model
        • Learn physical realities of bay (docking), also relevant to SeaRV model
        • Platform for relevant research, ie take it out into ocean and try wave power schemes
      • Commercial/Organizational:
        • Serve as offices for foundation (would be good to "eat our own dogfood" and experience living onboard).

We will keep you up to date with pictures, video, and posts, as engineering progresses, watch the TSI Engineering forum for more. Comments/questions/offers of free skilled labor, please email eng@seasteading.org.