From my previous projects I know that being in a confined space and the isolation can be difficult. The difference in LEGOLAND® ATLANTIS is that this time I won't be completely isolated. Via the internet I can communicate with the outside world virtually around the clock. The underwater house also has big windows and I'm excited that I'll actually be able to see the visitors who are interested in my aquarium adventure.
The most important thing is that everything is in good working order when I start the project. So before the project begins I'll bring everything I'll need into the house, connect and prepare it. In the week prior to LEGOLAND ATLANTIS I'll be running a marathon in Rome, so I can physically really exert myself one last time before starting. The long distance runs are also really great for my mental preparation. I always think of good ideas, for example about problems that might be waiting for me under water. To get ready for my Guinness World Records™ attempt at generating 2500 watt-hours underwater in 14 days, I am also doing a lot of bicycle riding to keep in shape and going diving every now and then.
The information exchange between NASA bioengineer Dennis Chamberland and myself so we can get lots of results for our research will be an important part of my day. Thanks to the internet I also have the opportunity to communicate with visitors and other people who are interested in the project. In order to do this I'll have to pedal up electricity for my laptop. Above all I want to set a new Guinness World Records and generate at least 2500 watt-hours of electricity. For this I'll be busy for about 3-4 hours every day pedalling my bicycle, so I don't think I'll get bored too quickly.
It is likely that I'll only get something fresh to eat every 3 days. The rest of the time I'll have to make do with expedition food, which is a kind of dry food. I'm already looking forward to my grandmother-in-law's visit. She's going to bring me some of her homemade potato salad, which is just the best in the world. I'm going to really enjoy that!
The times when the park is closed and I am alone with the fish. That's when I'll really feel like I'm living at the bottom of the sea.
My interest in living under water began during my diving training and studying marine biology. It combines my two greatest passions. I've always been interested in new technology and its applications. Sleeping under water is also something really special. It's a difficult feeling to describe; it's really peaceful and relaxing. You hear all kinds of new noises. For me, living under water is living my childhood dream.
To have generated 2500 watt-hours of electricity by the end of the 14 days, I'll have to pedal my bicycle for about 3-4 hours each day. If I need a change, I can also pedal with my hands. The electricity I generate will be measured and then used for my laptop. Whether I actually manage to generate enough electricity to power my laptop all by myself depends on how many emails and questions I get from outside world, but I can also use normal electricity if I need to.
In this situation generating electricity under water isn't dangerous. During the experiment only small voltages (12 volts) will be generated. Contact with this amount of voltage is harmless and not life threatening. It's so small in fact that you wouldn't even get a shock if you came in contact with it. There's no danger for the fish or myself either because in his house I'm only using 12-volt DC from a battery.
I'll be working together closely with my friend Dennis Chamberland. He's a bioengineer at NASA and his field of work is life support systems. We've worked together on previous projects and we planned the systems in the house at LEGOLAND ATLANTIS together. If something unexpected happens, there's even an emergency system that will wake me up if I am sleeping. For the air supply in the house we couldn't use a system like they use on space flights where they filter out the excess carbon dioxide with chemicals. That would endanger the fish.
We developed another system where fresh air is pumped into the house through a compressor. A valve ensures that the air pressure inside the house is slightly higher than the water pressure on the outside, i.e. approximately 1.4 bar. This prevents the water in the aquarium from rising through the hatch in the floor. The CO2-rich air that is exhaled will be pressed outside via a special pipe system.
The water in the aquarium is 25°C. That's how warm it will be inside the house. For an Australian like me, this is a perfect temperature. I'll feel right at home.
The fish will be introduced to the changes around them step by step so that they'll have enough time to get used to the new situation. I think we'll get along just fine.
The conditions under water are not exactly ideal for people who suffer from claustrophobia. For emergencies I will have a diving mask and a small oxygen tank within easy reach. Around the clock there are always two divers on duty who are trained for emergencies and if necessary they will be able to get me out of the house.
