Reverse Scuba Suit (RAR!)

[Zor]

Lets say we have a genetically engineered sapient shark with fins that end in hands named Janet. Janet the shark has no interest in eating people and wants to be able to go around on the land cities and forests and what not. Some guy decides to fund the creation of a mechanism to let Janet do that. How would this be made?

Zor

[Batman]

Magic/technobabble.

[SCRawl]

From what I recall, a shark just needs oxygenated water blowing into its mouth and past its gills more or less constantly to survive. So you would need some sort of harness which the shark could wear that accomplishes this; perhaps a tank (or a pair of tanks) carried on its dorsal side that contained water, along with something like a carburetor to dissolve air into that water, and a pump to circulate the water.

A little Googling tells me that some sharks still have to keep moving, as muscle contractions are required to keep blood circulation going, so if Janet is one of these species I don't know if reverse-SCUBA gear will cut it. She might also need some internal hardware to jack up her blood pressure.

[Broomstick]

There remains the problem that sharks are not adapted to moving on land/through air. I think we'd be looking as some sort of wheelchair device operated by some sort of joystick Janet can manipulate. You could mount the necessary life support equipment on the wheelchair as well.

I have to wonder if being out of water for an extended period might be bad for Janet's skin as well, in which case a wetsuit of some kind might be in order.

[The Yosemite Bear]

more like reverse SUB/rover, probably something like one of those pods from 2001

[Ultonius]

It might be worth looking at the research done by Professor Ogden Wernstrom in this field.



More seriously, the problems of Janet needing to have her body in constant motion and her lack of mobility on land could be solved by giving the suit wheels or legs that are powered or at least controlled by the movement of Janet's tail or body.

[madd0ct0r]

I'm thinking tank on treads.

[Zixinus]

I'm thinking tank on treads.

Pretty much, except not making one continuous thread but cutting it down to several smaller threaded units (with three wheels around axle that can rotate), so Jannet can use those to climb stairs.

[The Yosemite Bear]

no dalek jokes?

[Zor]

As a note of clarification, Janet is derived from the bullshark.

Zor

[Kuja]

Highly oxygenated MDMA tablets.

[madd0ct0r]

i think i know the girl who modlled for that pic. ironically she's a vegetarian.