A pedal drive system that uses oscillating fins under the water to propel a kayak through the water with 2x the efficiency of a conventional paddle kayak.
MirageDrive® GT
I was responsible for developing systems that allow the drive to be much more resilient to harsh ocean environments, I performed engineering fatigue cycle tests along with materials studies to create an extremely tough MirageDrive. Combined with an aesthetic overhaul and a design for high-volume production led to the GT becoming the most reliable production MirageDrive to date.
Adjustable-Reciprocating-Crank (ARC) was invented after a series of user studies highlighting the issues people had adjusting the existing drive. It allows the user to adjust the MirageDrive leg length with just the push of a button, this made for a significantly improved user-experience, cleaner aesthetic and improved mechanical strength. Going from square to rectangle extrusion profile increasing the torsional stiffness of the crank.
Kick-up finsUS9359052 allow users to hit underwater objects without breaking the drive or boat, no other kayak product on the market can do this. Introducing the kickup fins directly led to a 95% reduction in warranty failure, a huge market advantage for Hobie and an increase in drive efficiency.
Tooling geometry checks
ANNUAL ASSEMBLY VOLUME ~25,000PCS • NEW COMPONENTS: 32
TESTING: UV TESTING • FATIGUE CYCLE TESTING • FEA ANALYSIS • IMPACT TESTING • TENSILE TESTING • FIELD TESTING • SAND & SALT WATER TESTING • FMEA
PRODUCTION PROCESSES: INJECTION MOLDING • ALUMINUM EXTRUSION • ANODIZING & HEAT TREATING • STAINLESS STAMPING • CNC MILLING • OVER-MOLDING • LASER ETCHING • CUSTOM STAINLESS HARDWARE • PRECISION MOLDING (0.002”) • PASSIVATION AND ELECTROPOLISHING • DIE CUTTING
MirageDrive® 180
Allows the user to easily reverse the kayak with the pull of a cord. In order to do this the team had to think up completely new methods of allowing the fins to rotate. The bearings inside had to be completely redesigned in order to remove the lower shaft, allowing the fins to turn.
I improved the established mechanism, develop a new crank set, improve the assembly time and integrate kickup-fins within the constraint of the 180 architecture.
MirageDrive 360
Lead engineer Phil took the next step inventing the MirageDrive 360 series. Allowing the drive to turn infinitely in any direction makes for a whole new kind of kayak fishing experience. Suddenly large kayaks could turn on a dime, users can now quickly turn the boat toward fish with ease. I worked alongside Phil, helping to develop some of the core technologies such as the cable transmission, gearbox and the crank adjustment mechanism.
Concept Development • Mechanical Analysis • Utility Patent • Industrial Design • DFM