What amphibious vehicle is this, based on a Tata Xenon?

Bh.P · 10th February 2021, 14:01

I happened to see this in a school in Bangalore. I was unable to figure out what this is. One person said that one of their ex students is trying to make an amphibious vehicle, another said it was a special vehicle brought in to clean the lake in the school. It has an IIT Madras sign painted on it. Any ideas what it is?

It seems to be a heavily modified Tata Xenon.

v12 · 10th February 2021, 14:09

Looks like a hovercraft equipment fitted on the back.

BANDHAV · 10th February 2021, 14:19

This surely seems like a well funded student project.

It has ADRV written on front and side, I am assuming that stands for Amphibious D?????? (can't think of anything here) Recreational Vehicle. That covered canopy on the loading bay is pointing towards the same.

condor · 10th February 2021, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by v12

Looks like a hovercraft equipment fitted on the back.

Doesnt a hovercraft need a larger fan ? The front looks more suited for water.

roamer012 · 10th February 2021, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by BANDHAV

This surely seems like a well funded student project.

It has ADRV written on front and side, I am assuming that stands for Amphibious D?????? (can't think of anything here) Recrational Vehicle. That covered canpoy on the loading bay is pointing towards the same.

Seeing the red cross in the symbol and reading this article, I can only make a guess for this to be an Amphibious Disaster Rescue Vehicle.

I highly doubt that IIT M will be associated with a recreational vehicle

BANDHAV · 10th February 2021, 14:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by roamer012

Seeing the red cross in the symbol and reading this article, I can only make a guess for this to be an Amphibious Disaster Rescue Vehicle.

I highly doubt that IIT M will be associated with a recreational vehicle

Brilliant work there mate, case closed.

I did a quick search on ADRV but didn't find anything substantial so let my imagination run loose.

findviru · 10th February 2021, 15:55

ADRV stands for Amphibious Disaster Relief Vehicles.

GTO · 11th February 2021, 11:03

Mod Note: Thanks for sharing! Thread moved to the Commercial Vehicle forum.

Rehaan · 12th February 2021, 21:05

Very cool find!

Are the pontoons/outriggers (for lack of a better word) raised and lowered via hydraulics? That looks like it might be the case. I've never seen a design like that before... interesting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by roamer012

Amphibious Disaster Rescue Vehicle.

Seems to be an amphibious ambulance!

Found this 2015 article: Amphibious Ambulances under development at IIT-Madras.

Quoting:

Quote:

The idea for an amphibian vehicle came after 108 ambulance drivers said they weren’t able to ferry several patients, including pregnant women in labour, when the city was inundated by the December 2015 floods. “The aim is to ensure that people in distress are taken to the hospital within the golden hour”.

fordday · 12th February 2021, 21:12

This is done by one of our BHPians who owns a commercial garage. I have seen this from initial build and was custom ordered for a educational institute.

Hope he will respond here with details.

vishwasvr · 13th February 2021, 11:36

Ha! One of my very good friend and mentor, Mr. V, asked me if I was interested in taking up this project. I thought, why not! So we did the mechanical work for them. Suspension and chassis upgrade etc. It is a POC for IIT-M. Mr. V handled the rest of the work. Hydraulics, floats, electricals etc. For obvious reasons, we didn't get too much info on the project despite working on it for several weeks!

It is an amphibious vehicle based on a Tata Xenon pick up. It is capable of traveling at a fairly decent speed on water. I don't recall the speeds they achieved on water. I've watched the testing on a lake near Kanakapura, Bangalore.

unknowntrainer · 13th February 2021, 13:53

Reminds me of clarkson's amphibious car in top gear

TrackDay · 14th February 2021, 17:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bh.P

Any ideas what it is?

Like others have said this is clearly an amphibious vehicle. There seems to be some kind of hydraulic set up to raise the platform. Also the yellow housing at the rear could be the base for a large fan blade. Anyways with the recent flooding that has been taking place in most cities, it might be good for Civic departments to get a hold of this one.

On a lighter note this could be something left by aliens who were planning on invading our planet but couldn't find a parking spot for this in Bangalore

venugopal · 24th October 2021, 14:31

What amphibious vehicle is this, based on a Tata Xenon?-4.jpeg

What amphibious vehicle is this, based on a Tata Xenon?-6.jpeg

What amphibious vehicle is this, based on a Tata Xenon?-7.jpeg

What amphibious vehicle is this, based on a Tata Xenon?-8.jpeg

What amphibious vehicle is this, based on a Tata Xenon?-9.jpeg

Hi.
Did a project of converting a Tata Xenon ,into a amphibious vehicle.
This actually being a third version of it. Maybe unique in a way ,because the hydraulic pump is between the engine and the gearbox. Extension of the gear pump shaft driving the gearbox.
The floats are retractable along with the azimuth propeller for road use. Has extensive drive train modification. Making use of a electro hydraulic control.

The project was undertaken on behest Mr Vidya shankar. And also thanking Mr Vishwas reddy for providing a place at "CARSMITH". And graciously putting up with us ,for over an year. While all the design planning and execution was done. Special thanks Mr Vikram and team for the drone shoot.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y5C...ew?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bz4...ew?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jyu...ew?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jyu...ew?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CE0...ew?usp=sharing
PS: The links are allowing downloads only.

regs

SS-Traveller · 24th October 2021, 15:11

Impressive conversion. Going by the red & blue flashing lights on top of the vehicle, I'm presuming this conversion is for a government law enforcement agency.

Is this a project for a one-off vehicle, or a series of such amphibious vehicles to be delivered to the agerncy?
How street-legal is this?
Would you mind sharing some views of the hydraulic pump(s) and the engineering involved, as well as
An idea of the costs?

10th February 2021, 14:01	#1
Bh.P BHPian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 254 Thanked: 369 Times	What amphibious vehicle is this, based on a Tata Xenon? I happened to see this in a school in Bangalore. I was unable to figure out what this is. One person said that one of their ex students is trying to make an amphibious vehicle, another said it was a special vehicle brought in to clean the lake in the school. It has an IIT Madras sign painted on it. Any ideas what it is? It seems to be a heavily modified Tata Xenon. Attached Thumbnails
	(21) Thanks

10th February 2021, 14:09	#2
v12 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,754 Thanked: 7,451 Times View My Garage	re: What amphibious vehicle is this, based on a Tata Xenon? Looks like a hovercraft equipment fitted on the back.
	(3) Thanks

10th February 2021, 14:19	#3
BANDHAV Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ghaziabad Posts: 1,408 Thanked: 2,946 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (5)	re: What amphibious vehicle is this, based on a Tata Xenon? This surely seems like a well funded student project. It has ADRV written on front and side, I am assuming that stands for Amphibious D?????? (can't think of anything here) Recreational Vehicle. That covered canopy on the loading bay is pointing towards the same. Last edited by Rehaan : 12th February 2021 at 20:58. Reason: Changing to ? :)*
	(3) Thanks

10th February 2021, 15:55	#7
findviru BHPian Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Pune Posts: 75 Thanked: 99 Times	re: What amphibious vehicle is this, based on a Tata Xenon? ADRV stands for Amphibious Disaster Relief Vehicles.
	(4) Thanks

11th February 2021, 11:03	#8
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 71,570 Thanked: 310,018 Times View My Garage	Re: What amphibious vehicle is this, based on a Tata Xenon? Mod Note: Thanks for sharing! Thread moved to the Commercial Vehicle forum.
	() Thanks

12th February 2021, 21:12	#10
fordday BHPian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 528 Thanked: 1,476 Times	Re: What amphibious vehicle is this, based on a Tata Xenon? This is done by one of our BHPians who owns a commercial garage. I have seen this from initial build and was custom ordered for a educational institute. Hope he will respond here with details.
	(7) Thanks

13th February 2021, 11:36	#11
vishwasvr BHPian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 245 Thanked: 621 Times	Re: What amphibious vehicle is this, based on a Tata Xenon? Ha! One of my very good friend and mentor, Mr. V, asked me if I was interested in taking up this project. I thought, why not! So we did the mechanical work for them. Suspension and chassis upgrade etc. It is a POC for IIT-M. Mr. V handled the rest of the work. Hydraulics, floats, electricals etc. For obvious reasons, we didn't get too much info on the project despite working on it for several weeks! It is an amphibious vehicle based on a Tata Xenon pick up. It is capable of traveling at a fairly decent speed on water. I don't recall the speeds they achieved on water. I've watched the testing on a lake near Kanakapura, Bangalore. Last edited by vishwasvr : 13th February 2021 at 11:47.
	(10) Thanks

13th February 2021, 13:53	#12
unknowntrainer Newbie Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Chennai Posts: 15 Thanked: 47 Times	Re: What amphibious vehicle is this, based on a Tata Xenon? Reminds me of clarkson's amphibious car in top gear
	(2) Thanks

24th October 2021, 14:31	#14
venugopal BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 69 Thanked: 21 Times	Amphibious Tata Xenon Hi. Did a project of converting a Tata Xenon ,into a amphibious vehicle. This actually being a third version of it. Maybe unique in a way ,because the hydraulic pump is between the engine and the gearbox. Extension of the gear pump shaft driving the gearbox. The floats are retractable along with the azimuth propeller for road use. Has extensive drive train modification. Making use of a electro hydraulic control. The project was undertaken on behest Mr Vidya shankar. And also thanking Mr Vishwas reddy for providing a place at "CARSMITH". And graciously putting up with us ,for over an year. While all the design planning and execution was done. Special thanks Mr Vikram and team for the drone shoot. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y5C...ew?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bz4...ew?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jyu...ew?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jyu...ew?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CE0...ew?usp=sharing PS: The links are allowing downloads only. regs Last edited by venugopal : 24th October 2021 at 14:52.
	(12) Thanks

24th October 2021, 15:11	#15
SS-Traveller Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 8,197 Thanked: 27,779 Times View My Garage	Re: Amphibious Tata Xenon Impressive conversion. Going by the red & blue flashing lights on top of the vehicle, I'm presuming this conversion is for a government law enforcement agency. Is this a project for a one-off vehicle, or a series of such amphibious vehicles to be delivered to the agerncy? How street-legal is this? Would you mind sharing some views of the hydraulic pump(s) and the engineering involved, as well as An idea of the costs?
	() Thanks