Japan-based diesel engine and pleasure boat manufacturer Yanmar challenged the students from Kyoto Institute of Technology and Swinburne University of Technology to develop an entirely new water-based experience.

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Surfboards, boats, wake-boards: there are many different ways to enjoy the water. Through interviewing water enthusiasts, and through experiencing different activities themselves, the team discovered that standing on water is a truly exhilarating experience. However, surfing and other activities where one can stand on water is difficult and requires practice. Could there be someway novices can stand on water?

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The team's answer is the Wheebo, an omni-directional, jet-powered platform which allows the user to turn with a simple shift of weight or change of tilt. The simplicity of the interaction and stability of the machine delivers a fun activity that is accessible to people of all levels of water experience.

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Through iterative prototyping, the team delivered a final prototype that included:

• Round platform with a central rotating jet underneath that allows the users to ride standing, sitting, or lying down.

• Bluetooth connected wristband to control the speed of the Wheebo

• Mobile app (connected via bluetooth) that customizes the Wheebo by adjusting the stability and sensitivity of the direction change sensors

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