Filipino company develops Salamander amphibious trike

Summary

An automotive customizer has developed an amphibious tricycle named Salamander, designed to navigate both land and floodwaters. This innovation was inspired by the devastating floods caused by Typhoon Ondoy in 2009. The Salamander's creation was a costly endeavor, with an initial investment of 8 million pesos, culminating in a prototype costing 100,000 pesos. It can travel up to 80 km/h on land and 11 kph in water. Despite interest from local governments and potential international buyers, mass production remains a challenge due to financial constraints. The creator seeks investment to establish a factory and produce the Salamander at a lower cost to aid in disaster relief efforts.

Takeaways

• 🛠️ An automotive customizer named Atoy has created an amphibious tricycle called Salamander.
• 🌊 The Salamander is designed to travel on land and through flood waters.
• 💡 The creation was inspired by the need for rescue vehicles during severe flooding caused by typhoons.
• 🚀 The Salamander can float on water, making it suitable for rescue operations during floods.
• 💰 The cost to build the final prototype was 100,000, but the development process cost 8 million plus.
• 🔍 The key feature of the Salamander is its buoyancy, which was crucial for its functionality.
• 🏞️ The idea for the amphibious tricycle began after Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, which caused severe flooding and loss of life.
• 🚗 The Salamander can travel at speeds of up to 80 km/h on land and 11 kph on water.
• 🏭 There is interest from local government units and other countries, but mass production is challenging due to financial constraints.
• 💼 Atoy is seeking investment to establish a factory, hire engineers, and produce the Salamander at a lower cost to help communities.
• 🌐 The Salamander has the potential to transform rescue operations and is supported by the local community and government.

Q & A

What is the amphib trike salamander?

The amphib trike salamander is a customized tricycle designed to travel on both land and water, created by an automotive customizer to help with rescue operations during floods.

Who created the amphibious tricycle?

The amphibious tricycle was created by an automotive customizer named Atoy, who was motivated by the need for rescue vehicles after severe flooding caused by typhoons.

What was the cost to build the final prototype of the salamander?

The cost to build the final prototype of the salamander was 100,000, but prior to that, they spent 8 million plus to get the salamander working, with a significant portion of the budget going towards ensuring buoyancy.

How did the 2009 Ondoy typhoon influence the creation of the salamander?

The 2009 Ondoy typhoon, which caused severe flooding and loss of life, sparked the passion for creating the salamander. It was during this event that Atoy and his team launched the amphibious tricycle project.

What are the capabilities of the salamander on land and in water?

The salamander can travel at speeds of up to 80 km per hour on land and 11 kph in water. It is designed to function like a regular tricycle on land and can float like a boat on water.

What additional features does the salamander have?

The salamander has six compartments for carrying items that should not get wet, and it can be powered by either an electric or combustion engine.

How long did it take to develop the salamander tricycle?

It took three years of development before they were able to build the salamander tricycle, with the community in Quezon City already using prototypes for their benefit.

What has been the response from local governments and other countries to the salamander?

Local governments and even units in other countries have shown interest in the salamander, but there has been a challenge in mass production due to financial constraints.

What is the main challenge in mass producing the salamander?

The main challenge is finding investment for mass production. While there is interest from local governments, there is a lack of financial investment to establish the necessary factory, facilities, and spare parts supply.

What kind of support does Atoy say is needed to make the salamander a reality?

Atoy states that they need investment to create their own factory, facilities, engineers, and spare parts to produce the salamander affordably and make a difference by helping others.

What is the current status of the salamander project in terms of production?

As of the script, the project is still in the prototype phase, with the community using these prototypes. There is a need for investment to move from prototypes to mass production.