The Kiravan from Applied Minds is out of this world
The Kiravan from Applied Minds LLC, has everything you could possibly need in a caravan. No, really. Even if you decided to visit the moon (somehow), we’re pretty sure you’d do fine in this bad boy. Imagine if an ATV and a caravan had a baby, with elements of the Mars land rover thrown in, and you’ll get a pretty good idea of what the Kiravan is all about. It was initially developed to be a superior, large-scale expedition system for rover-land exploration, still photography, film production and scientific research, but who’s to say it wouldn’t stand the test of time down Camber Sands?
Following on from the technology used on the MaxiMog, a “modular, high mobility vehicle designed for exploring this (or similar) planets,” the designers at Applied Minds, LLC are clearly reaching for the stars with the products they are undertaking. The Kiravan was prompted, to a degree, by the birth of the designers’ daughter, Kira, whose safety and needs would need to be considered in the creation of this kind of hard core vehicle – the name, Kiravan, is now fitting delicately into place, and we’re no longer convinced it was a caravan designed by a New Zealander.
Applied Minds said of the Kiravan that they wanted “to increase the available space and capabilities, extend flexibility and modularity, minimise crew workload while increasing their situational awareness, and minimise negative environmental impact.” All smart moves from where we’re sitting.
The final design is made up of a tractor-trailer configuration being specifically optimised for on- and off-roading. We’re not quite sure whether you’d leave the Kiravan, along with your car’s chassis, behind should you try to tow this bad boy by conventional means so a tractor seems to make sense. However, this isn’t just any ordinary tractor as you will see from our pics below.
The impressive Kiravan measures in at 52’with a maximum gross weight of 51,700 lbs, so we’d be inclined not to take it on that trip to Camber after all. It’s basically a building with wheels. If you’re in need of speed, however, the Kiravan does not disappoint as it has its very own KiraBike, turbo-diesel motorcycle located at the end of the trailer.
Not exactly designed for your everyday caravanner, the Kiravan comes complete with specialised technology for communications; telepresence; navigation; mapping; still, film and video production; remote exploration; physical and chemical analysis; geology; archaeological survey work and digs; scientific field research and trip documentation. Yikes! We have a feeling this was built with a very specific group of customers in mind. The only problem is they’d surely stick out like a sore thumb during covert missions.
It really does sound as though, even if the apocalypse took place, you would be fine in this hardy beast – well, for a while at least. It can store enough food and water for a ‘crew’ of three for three weeks, the fuel system and tanks are heated for extreme cold and bio-fuel use and incorporate extensive filtration capabilities.
Whether you’re in Death Valley, California or the Arctic Circle, the Kiravan will keep you comfortable. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, with independent humidification and dehumidification allow the cabin to maintain a comfortable temperature even with outside temperatures reaching +130°F or dropping to -30°.
It will be continuously monitored for heat, smoke and combustion by-products as well as for direct flame by UV/IR flame detectors and has built in, automatic aqueous foam fire extinguishers, that can also be discharged manually, for each engine as well as Halotron extinguishers are accessible in the cabins and technical areas. Can this caravan/motorhome hybrid actually get any cooler?
The answer to our last question above is yes – even when talking about the first aid kit. Oh no, the Kiravan doesn’t come with a little green plastic box with a few bandages and plaster. This kit includes a patient monitor and ultrasound, an automated external defibrillator, first aid and over the counter and prescription drugs tailored for the crewmembers and anticipated travel conditions.
If you’re not impressed yet – you have seriously high standards – here comes the big one. The Kiravan has masts. Multiple masts even. The tallest of which stands at 58ft above ground level with the ‘mini-masts’ having heights of 22ft. While we don’t expect owners of this scientific wonder to be parking it at any old caravan site, one thing’s for sure, if you did, you definitely wouldn’t lose where you parked up.
These are but a few of the features of the Kiravan and it’s already blown our minds. To find out more about this crazy caravan, click here.
