If a tsunami is coming, jumping in a survival pod might be the best way to stay alive. When you look back at grainy video footage from the catastrophic tsunami that hit Sumatra in 2004, or the heartbreaking footage of the 2011 Japanese tsunami that led to the Fukushima meltdown, the idea of sheltering in place and trying to ride out a tsunami seems like madness.īut tsunamis come with little warning, the waves are fast and they're incredibly destructive, meaning evacuation is often impossible. According to the Survival Capsule website, that includes "sharp object penetration, heat exposure, blunt object impact and rapid deceleration" - basically, if you're cast upon the waves and you come crashing back to shore, the Capsule has you covered. On the outside, the bright orange Capsule is reinforced to withstand everything a natural disaster can bring. It's just wide enough for two people to sit side by side (though you'd want to be very comfortable sharing personal space), with the remaining space behind and below the seats dedicated to storage for supplies and air tanks (just in case).įrom its aluminum frame to its temperature-resistant ceramic lining to its Lexan windows, the Survival Capsule has been designed to survive a worst-case scenario. The Capsule is lined with the same silver, ceramic insulation that was used to protect the Space Shuttle when it reentered Earth's atmosphere. Don't expect the escape pod James Bond made famous in The Spy Who Loved Me - it's utilitarian and no-nonsense, with an exposed, tubular aluminum frame on the inside and space only for the essentials for survival. The Capsule is essentially a large, reinforced ball designed to protect passengers from the extreme forces of waves and the debris that comes with them. So I had all this going through my mind, and I started thinking about making something to jump into, which would be the simplest solution."ĭrawing on his years in the aerospace industry, Sharpe sat down to make some preliminary sketches, and the idea of the Survival Capsule was born. The kids were younger in those days, so you probably had to carry them. "It's nighttime, none of the tsunami signs would be illuminated. "I was lying there at nighttime listening to the waves, and I was thinking, 'What happens if a tsunami comes in now?'" he says. The Survival Capsule is reinforced with a tubular aluminum frame. But in reality, it's the brainchild of Julian Sharpe, a former aerospace engineer who dreamed up the idea during a beach vacation with his family. Engineered for disasterĪ tsunami escape pod might sound like the frivolous invention of a tech billionaire or a Bond supervillain. You can check out our episodes on Pandemic, Nuclear Winter, Global Drought, Tsunamis, Cryonics and Escaping the Planet and see the full series on YouTube. Hacking the Apocalypse is CNET's new documentary series digging into the science and technology that could save us from the end of the world. ![]() But if a catastrophic earthquake hits the Pacific Northwest and I'm left with 10 minutes to escape the giant tsunami that follows, a watertight escape pod might just be my best option for staying alive. I'm claustrophobic and prone to motion sickness, and frankly I don't trust the ocean. In short, it promises the ultimate in disaster insurance, starting at a cool $15,000.īeing locked inside a Survival Capsule is not my ideal way to spend a Thursday morning. Designed to aerospace standards and built from aircraft-grade aluminum, it's made to withstand tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes. I've foolishly volunteered to head out onto Puget Sound, to test out the Survival Capsule - a high-tech tsunami escape pod that protects civilians in case of a catastrophic emergency. This story is part of Hacking the Apocalypse, CNET's documentary series on the tech saving us from the end of the world. Outside, I can see the Seattle skyline bobbing up and down in between huge waves of water, all visible through a small, reinforced porthole. In front of me, a watertight metal door is bolted shut. ![]() My legs are squashed, my shoulders are cramped, and my only air supply is drifting in through a valve just above my left ear.
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