The Kalmar Project: wave vessel propulsion

by Michal Latacz (Poland)

Michal sees Nature as a huge bank of ideas and a source of inspiration to innovate. Natural evolution across million years has produced things that we should study to see whether we could use them to improve our own technology.

Michal Latacz shares with us his ideas about his invention through the following short interview.

Hi Michal, could you please introduce yourself within a few words?

I'm Michał Latacz, a young graduate of Cracow University of Technology in  the Mechanical Engineering Faculty.  Specialized in robotics, currently I am developing a project that can change the future of transportation.  I am the builder of Kalmar prototype which uses a very effective propulsion system.
This particular project is to examine some of the swimming techniques of water animals and attempts to build a machine that propels itself like them. The research is focused on Cephalopods and Rays.  For today, the result of my research is a vessel which uses a unique "hydro wing" propeller.  Undulating fins with precisely designed geometry and connected with an elastic membrane imitating live organic tissue. My prototype is named "Kalmar".  First test runs have shown that my drive is far more effective than propeller blades.  When compared to ships equipped with a conventional screw, my model uses up to 5 times less energy.  Right now I am engaged in developing the Project.  My invention is protected by international patent laws.

Can you provide us with a brief descritpion of your project?

I'm fascinated how nature creates it's brilliant designs.  Animal swimming techniques have drawn my attention while I was still a student.
Later during my studies I found out that there is a scientific discipline called Bionics which is about examining the processes that propel live organisms and using them in modern engineering.  According to me, I see Nature as a huge bank of ideas and a source of inspiration to innovate.  Natural evolution across millions of years has produced things that we should study; to see whether we could use them to improve our own technology.  Our own technology is a few thousand years old, maximum, so we should observe Nature, we should learn from Nature!  I observed Nature, in particular fishes such as rays and mollusks such as squids or Calmar.  While still a student, I based a new, revolutionary vessel propulsion system on my observations.

What are the different steps of your project?

I started this project while I was still a student.  The locomotion of Cephalopods has fascinated me for a long time.  I have suspected that "there is something in it".  In the middle of my studies I decided to design a machine that swims like a Sepia.  As time passed by, my idea became a subject of my Master's Thesis while at the Cracow University of Technology.  Anyway, the theoretical concept was "not enough". I decided to build a physical model.  I used CATIA software for design purposes because personally I see it as the best CAD system on today's market.  In my opinion, Bionics research can be a milestone in modern engineering.  This new approach can uplift our technology to a new era of machines with outstanding performance which, up till now, was beyond our reach.
After 2 years of hard work, the Kalmar prototype was successfully assembled and tested.  I did no less than eleven virtual mock-ups before I was satisfied and felt that I could build a demonstrator to show my invention live.  The Kalmar vessel was born and proved to work right away thanks to the realistic simulation features available in CATIA.
Currently I am working on a 3 meter long leisure vessel which will use my propulsion system.  One of the main goals is to build a manned immersive vessel equipped with a propulsion system based on my invention.  Also, I am going to develop a system capable for use in transport ships.

What was your motivation? When did you start to believe in your invention?

Long before the ship was built, I have imagined it working.  I simply liked what I saw.  When I built my first digital mock-up I knew that it had to work.  At the beginning everyone notified about my plans treated me like a typical hot head that will cool off after several weeks.  When the prototype was presented swimming in the pool during it's first public demonstration, a few people disbelieved their eyes.
It took me two years to build a physical model.  I wanted to prove that my idea made sense not only on paper.  Of course, during those 2 years of hard work, I had better and worse days, but I believed that my ship would work from the very beginning.  I admit that even I was surprised by such high effectiveness of Kalmar's propulsion system.

How is your invention better than traditional systems?

A conventional propeller blade wastes a lot of its kinetic energy.  Simplifying all the process, fast rotating blades of the screw propeller cause local pressure drops.  In some areas the pressure becomes so low that locally, water starts to boil and forms air bubbles.  Due to that, the propeller blade is working in an air-water mixture of high structural complexity.  Blades are working partially in the air.  This means that they are not working to their full geometric potential.  When leaving the blade influence area these bubbles collapse as the pressure rises quickly.  A collapsing bubble generates sound waves that are the main cause of submarine detection.  That is why when a submarine wants to travel stealth it has to go slow.  If you look on Kalmar from its bow, you will understand why the geometrical resistance of its working propeller is insignificant.  Wave propulsion is the future. My propulsion is not fighting the water like a rotating screw.  It slightly pushes itself away from the fluid volume.

Do other organizations or companies know about your project? Do you plan to commercialize your invention? Are you seeking for distributors, investors?

In November, my project impressed the scientists on the biggest European fair for technological innovation - Brussels Innova 2007.  I left Belgium with a gold medal with mention from an international jury of the contest.  I also received a purchase order for my next machine: A Cephalopod like pedal boat.  Also, building of an underwater vessel is planned.  Unmanned as for now but in the future, it will carry tourists in wildlife reserve zones.
At the same time, I am entering “Passion for Innovation” to optimize and industrialize my propelling solution using the full range of Dassault Systèmes solutions, including SIMULIA.  We will focus on examining different variants of my propulsion and simulation of a hydro wing suitable for a manned 12 meter marine unit.  Thanks to Dassault Systémes’ solutions, the cost of prototyping is radically lowered.
I always seek new challenges as well as alternative ways of achieving targets which are already marked.  I do it also because I know that stable external capital can empower the research program carried out at present or even bring new directions of project development.  I am open to propositions of an interesting cooperation with private institutions, new technologies development funds or research facilities that have potential that may enhance my project development.

Where can we find more information about your project?

For more details, I invite you to visit my dedicated web site at www.deltaprototypes.com.pl and my project page on DS Campus.  I will be happy to get into contact with people interested in my work.