High-Speed Amphibious technology could aid first responders

The Gibbs Humdinga was initially developed as a concept for the military. The company is now developing similar vehicles for use by first responders.

You’ve capsized your small boat on a desolate, private lake. No one is around to help, but you manage to get a call out from your cellphone. First responders from the Fire Department arrive in a matter of minutes, but before they can get to you, they have to back up the truck and put the boat in the water. Ten minutes later, they finally motor over to your sinking vessel.

Now, picture the same scenario, but instead of a boat, the first responders arrive in an amphibious vehicle. Five seconds after hitting the water at the beach — it’s closer to the fire station than the boat ramp — the amphibian is on plane and heading out to help you.

There are hundreds of similar scenarios where a high-speed amphibious vehicle, capable of traveling on land or water could mean the difference between life and death.

Gibbs Technologies, which is also developing a range of recreational and personal transport amphibious vehicles, is working on a series of vehicles that could fit the needs of those first responders.

In an exclusive interview at Gibbs’ Auburn Hills headquarters and development center, Chairman Neil Jenkins said the company plans to offer a range vehicles that fire departments, search and rescue groups, beach patrols and others could use. Gibbs is also developing similar vehicles for military use.

“We’ve done some successful testing with the American military,” Jenkins said, adding that the company has demonstrated the Aquada, Quadski and a military-spec vehicle called the Humdinga.

“We are developing a platform that we are going to make available for the first responders. A variation of that development would be used for the military.”

Gibbs has been working with well-known defense contractor Lockheed Martin on the military version.

The first responder vehicles would be built to accept specific modules for different missions such as flood rescue and firefighting.