Airier
The Innovative head-mounted protective equipment at concerts and events with air curtain technology
My Role
Team Leader, Research, Modeling, Prototyping, UI Design
Team
3 Designers
Tools
Figma,
Rhino, KeyShot, SolidWorks,
Adobe Premiere
Timeline
4 Days = Research * 1 + Design * 2 + Prototyping * 1
Results
1st prize award winner in China-US Young Maker Competition
Overview
What is it?
Airier is a head-mounted personal protective equipment used in concerts and offline activities. It uses the air curtain to prevent the user's nose and mouth from being directly exposed to the air that may carry viruses. This project was awarded 1st Prize in China-US Young Maker Competition.
Background
We want to communicate safely during COVID-19
In 2020, when everyone was staying at home, people started their “concerts” on the balcony. They sang aloud, waving their phones pretending that they were waving glow sticks.
When things were getting better, we wore the mask and hurried to see our idols in concerts. When we can't help but take off our masks and cheer loudly, we find that personal safety seems to contradict with smooth communication between people in the post-epidemic era.
Insecurity “thickened” protective products
People are becoming more self-contained in their equipment.
Our goal
Based on what we observed in COVID-19, we decided to design for both safety and smooth communication. We want lighter ways of protechtion instead of thick equipment.
Research & ideation
Technical research
Through literature research, we found that air curtain could effectively reduce direct exposure to dirty air, and the particles caused by sneezing and coughing could be successfully dispaced from crossing the face protected by air curtain. And the best air speed was 10 m/s according to Alexander S. Sakharov‘s experiments in 2020.
Testing simulations
Our team did several simulations before starting our design using COMSOL Multiphysics.
Matrix Analysis
Based on tech research and matrix clustering analysis, we zoomed in to a wearable protective equipment that could provide more interactions in live concerts and other offline activities.
Sketching & storyboarding
Prototyping & testing
Rapid prototyping
We utilized 3D printing to create the components and then assembled them into the container of our core functional prototypes. Since the very first version of the prototype didn't close snugly, resulting in a less effective seal, we meticulously polished each part, reassembled it, and repeatedly tested it to improve its performance.
Dry ice tests
