Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] underwater gliders

[Doc <doc@bionicdolphin.com>]

Scott Carpenter the Astronaut/Aquanaut wrote two adventure novels based around sub soaring, "Steel Albatross"
& "Deep Flight". Both were entertaining and worth the read.

 Back in '95 we converted the BionicDolphin for running wet electric and found that once ballasted to neutral
at the surface, we could strap in 10 pounds of lead in a BC and soar at around 3 mph on ballast changes and
wings alone. If there was a good current running we could really cover some distance with minimal depth
oscillations. As a rule in calm water we could travel about a quarter mile per 35-40 foot depth cycle.
 It was quite a hoot, but made some of our Navy acquaintances a bit nervous,,, go figure!?!
A plastic sub about the size of a dolphin that cruises silently? I don't know why they looked so worried ;-)


Doc


If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.



William Alford wrote:

> http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/CuttingEdge/cuttingedge021011.html
>
> As the vessel dives, a small motor pushed the bank of batteries slightly
> forward, shifting it into a nose down attitude. The water that rushes over
> the "wings" of the glider pushes the craft forward as it falls through the
> water.
> Once it reaches a pre-determined depth, the process is reversed and the
> Seaglider begins to rise. As it goes up, the wings continue to give the
> Seaglider forward momentum, pushing it further along through the water.
>
> William Alford
> walford@dbtech.net
>
> Tout comprendre c'est tout pardonner