The Italian designer Pier Paolo Lazzarini (I am in love with your works, do you see?) presented his new design, Stratosphere Concept. With a diameter of 1,65 metres, Stratosfera is an ultra-light carbon fiber sphere capable of accommodating two passengers. The luxurious hydrofoil “bubble” is made of carbon fiber and versatile enough to accommodate electric motors and the propellers that literally help it fly over the sea.
A dream hydrofoil sphere
To travel on water, the Aquatic Stratosphere features an extensible plate mounted in the lower part of the sphere, which allows the submerged part to maintain a very low center of gravity by incorporating all the battery packs. This helps the entire structure, ball and propellers, work like a gyroscope to keep the cabin stable. A self-balancing system keeps the ride smooth to your destination. The tilt angle of the ball counteracts any sudden movement: the result is a comfortable ride.
Aquatic Stratosphere is powered by two 150 HP electric motors, which push it forward on the water at one speed of 30 knots. When the speed is reduced, the ball gently descends to the surface of the water.
The pilot controls the vehicle through a high-tech, easy-to-use central cockpit. One of the passengers will also have to do all the piloting, regardless of whether the sphere travels on water or in mid-air.
It can also fly and walk (as long as it's a concept it can do anything)
In the designer's intentions, Stratosfera Volatile can also adopt the characteristics of an electric vehicle, or an eVTOL. The spherical shape powered by eight counter-rotating propellers would fly at a speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), or it could take off with the help of a hot air balloon covered by a solar panel. I'm skeptical. And in any case the study does not provide details on the estimated distance or flight altitude, just as details on the performance of the vehicle version are missing.
Access to the hydrofoil sphere is guaranteed by a sliding glass door at the front or via an opening in the roof. The studio plans to launch Stratosfera as an open source project by the middle of the 2022. Investors and direct buyers will be able to contribute to the development and upgrade process of this versatile electric vehicle.
