I was the videographer at this event, and should have a
movie about it to show at the PSUBS convention. Also, it turns out the builder
of what I think was everyone's favorite sub is based near Holland, MI and says
he'll try to join us with his sub. It's called Bogus Batoid, and is
a wooden sub with flexible wings. The quality of construction is like fine
furniture, and the design looks like a Da Vinci machine. And it even
works!
Alec From: owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org [mailto:owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org] On Behalf Of Jay K. Jeffries Sent: Friday, June 29, 2007 10:57 AM To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] New World-Record Speed Set At International Human-powered Submarine Races; 'Batwing And Manta Ray-like' Power New World-Record
Speed Set At International Human-powered Submarine Races; 'Batwing And Manta
Ray-like' Power By
Underwatertimes.com News Service Carderock,
Maryland (2007-06-28 20:15:59 EST) A Canadian team
has set a new world speed record of 7.926 knots in early trial runs at the 9th
International Submarine Races underway this week at the Naval Surface Warfare
Center's Carderock Division David Taylor Model Basin in Bethesda, Maryland.
The biennial
engineering design competition got underway Monday with 23 experimental
human-powered submarines participating. The event challenges the engineering
creativity of college, high school and independent students, inventors and
entrepreneurs. The new speed
mark was set by a submarine called OMER 5, crewed by Sebastien Brisebois and
Joel Brunet from the Ecole de Technologie Superieure at the University of
Quebec, Montreal, Canada. The previous world record was 7.061 knots set by OMER
4 in June, 2005. OMER team members were predicting that they might finally break
the eight-knot mark, a speed previously deemed unachievable by human-powered
submarines. Event leaders
have praised the innovation of a brand new one-person submarine, OMER6, also
from the Quebec team, which has a radical propulsion system utilizing
oscillating wings on each side of the forward fuselage. This submarine has
shattered all previous non-propeller design speed records by achieving 4.331
knots. Powering OMER6 is Nicolas Tardif. The fastest
American team has been Texas A&M's Maroon Harpoon, which has achieved a
speed of 5.022 knots with Luke Savoie providing propulsion. Former world
champion submarine team Florida Atlantic University has recorded a best speed of
4.299 knots in its effort to regain prominence in the world of human-powered
submarine design. The one- and
two-person teams are battling it out against the clock on the 100-meter course
this week for recognition of achievement in best overall performance, use of
composite materials, innovation and speed. Organizers say that they will
increase the degree of difficulty this year with a three-dimensional slalom
course permitting tandem races between selected teams to be held on Friday.
"We have seen an
explosion of remarkably innovative new designs this year compared to past
races," said Head Judge Claude Brancart, who is in charge of contestant liaison.
He said some of these innovations include "batwing and manta ray-like" power,
bird flight wings, whale tails and water wheel turbines in addition to
conventional propeller designs. Brancart points out that speeds have increased
steadily over the history of the event, dating back to 1989. Mr. Brancart notes
that experimental technology in human-powered submarine design has seen
increased use of computer-aided variable pitch propellers and electronic
underwater navigation systems. Typical teams
consist of student athlete/engineers, wearing scuba gear as the subs are "wet",
meaning filled with water. Propulsion is provided by team members' legs driving
a sprocket or transmission device attached to shafts and propellers.
ISR Executive
Director Nancy R. Hussey notes that "the submarine races demonstrate the value
of encouraging bright and creative students to apply what they have learned. We
continue to be delighted by their ingenuity. The ISR provides an education in
reality for marine technology and ocean engineering students by inspiring them
to design, build and operate their own submarines." School Teams
Participating in 2007: Sussex County
Technical High School, Sparta, NJ University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
University of Washington, Seattle, WA Ecole de Technologie Superieur, Montreal,
PQ, Canada (2) Texas A&M University, College Station, TX Florida Atlantic
University, Boca Raton, FL Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA
University of Veracruz, Verazruz, Mexico Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg,
VA Hernando County Schools, Spring Hill, FL (2) University of Florida,
Gainesville, FL Everett Community College, Everett, WA Millersville University,
Millersville, PA University of Maryland, College Park, MD (2) University of
Bath, Bath, United Kingdom University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kingspoint, NY University of California at San
Diego, CA Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Canada Independent
Teams Participating: Bruce Plazyk,
Wheaton, IL (2) Don Burton, Frederick, MD The contents of this e-mail are intended for the named addressee only. It contains information that may be confidential. Unless you are the named addressee or an authorized designee, you may not copy or use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you received it in error please notify us immediately and then destroy it. |