WSI- An event by submariner

["Kevin Hardy" <Kevin_Hardy@igppqm.ucsd.edu>]

                      Subject:                              Time:  2:22 PM
  OFFICE MEMO         WSI: An event by submariners          Date:  7/18/97


July 18, 1997

Some Human Powered Submarine History... and something of the future

by Kevin Hardy

Prompted by recent postings on the UCSD hosted WSI Subrace listserv, here are
a few milestones on a brief timeline of our experimental submarine community.
 They are told from a perspective of event organization.

Thanks to Leo Benetti-Longhini's calm and accurate reply to Lee Harris'
posting.  The TTU webpage is a good, impartial third party recording of these
submarine events.  As Leo noted, the TTU webpage is at
"http://www.tntech.edu/www/life/orgs/sub/".

While examples of human powered submarines date back hundreds of years, the
original idea for modern human powered submarine racing was brilliantly
conceived by Dr. Stan Dunn, Director of Florida Atlantic University's
Department of Ocean Engineering (FAU-OE), and H.A. "Hap" Perry, President of
Perry Tritech Corporation.  All modern submarine design challenges are traced
to that beginning.  Together they created an organization, originally
directed by Maggie Linskey-Merrill, to organize the first International
Submarine Races held in 1989.

The original ISR which ran their series of open ocean races in 1989, 1991,
and 1993 was an organization composed of three parties: the H. A. Perry
Foundation, FAU-OE, and the State of Florida.  For a variety of reasons, the
original ISR organization chose to disband following the 3rd ISR in 1993. 
FAU-OE today is a partner with UCSD/Scripps Institution of Oceanography
(Scripps) in the World Submarine Invitational (WSI), continuing their
contributions to the evolution of the sport they began.  The H.A. Perry
Foundation is no longer in operation.

Kevin Hardy, through Scripps, was a strong supporter of the first `89 ISR
event, producing a series of articles for the Marine Technology Society's
international publication, Currents.  For 1991's 2nd ISR , a Scripps team
developed and successfully operated the non-propeller submarine, SubDude. 
They also assisted with the starting gate light design including locating a
corporate sponsor, shared with other teams a low cost source of clear bow
domes, shared ther submarine development checklist, and shared a source of
underwater deadman switches developed for their submarine and still in
commercial production today.

After the 1991 ISR event, Jim Richardson, with team Sub-Human (Mare Island
Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA) began a campaign to convince Guinness to
establish a category in their Book of Records for human powered submarines. 
After initial approval of the idea by the U.S. representative for Guinness,
Richardson began correspondence directly with Guinness in England.  After
several months of international mail exchanges, Guinness agreed to establish
speed and distance categories for human powered submarines.  Initially,
Guinness had only agreed to recognize the fastest speed or longest distance
regardless of the mode of propulsion, i.e. propeller or non-propeller.  Jim
provided Kevin with the point of contact at Guinness to convey the benefits
of having two categories for human powered submarines.  Guinness agreed,
provided an event protocol and methodology was established to ensure the
records, once established, would be fairly challenged in the future. 
Richardson then advocated a new timing system which would provide accurate,
repeatable and verifiable results not subject to human error.  Time trial
speeds were an important factor in the original ISR awards.  A good
measurement of speed was vital.  With consent, and following Richardson's
idea, Scripps hosted a consortium to determine accurate speeds of vehicles
underwater.  As a result, the consortium developed the video based timing
system, accepted by experimental submariners as the standard submarine timing
system today.  In late 1992, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the timing
system and methodology, two representative submarines, Sub-Human II
(propeller category) and SubDude (non-propeller category) established the
first Guinness records for human powered submarines.

The video based timing system was then offered, camera stands and all, to the
original ISR Committee with the provision that either Jim or Kevin be added
to the Organizing Committee for 1-year to transfer the technology and
methodology. Unfortunately, that offer was not accepted.  Ultimately the
original ISR Committee disbanded following the 3rd ISR.

Under the direction of Richardson and Hardy, Scripps Institution and its
academic and industrial partners, stepped in to fill the void and fulfill the
promise to Guinness, holding it's first open invitational in 1994.  The WSI,
then called the West Coast Submarine Invitational (WCSI) was created by
submariners, for submariners.  Building on the base of experienced
submariners, a new event format was created.  It became the second evolution
in human powered submarine events, and a popular format among experimental
submariners.
  --Submariners challenged the clock, not each other;  
  --Submariners challenged the medium, not the environment;
  --Teams were scheduled into the basin, offering significant reductions in
the costs of participation by minimizing time spent at the event; 
  --Teams were offered the opportunity to run as many times as they could on
their scheduled day.  Less time at the event, and more time in the water;
  --Submariners were encouraged to learn as much as they could about
submarine performance by changing the configuration of their submarine with
new props, different dive planes, alternate bow domes;
  --Submariners were encouraged to press the limits of design.  If they broke
a part they were only out of the water long enough to fix it, instead of
being out of the event altogether;
  --Faculty advisors found an opportunity to share methods and ideas of
integrating the event design challenge into their curriculum.  The victory
was in the hands-on learning process.  One instructor suggested an on-line
research bibliography, which was implemented through the WSI web page;
  --Divisions were created to allow teams to challenge their peers.  A new
high school division was created based on the example of Steve Barton, a
16-year old who wasn't allowed to operate the submarine he built at the 1991
ISR in Florida.  Separate WSI event records were posted for collegiate teams,
and an open division;
  --New categories were created to separate propeller and non-propeller
designers, to encourage innovation in the area of non-traditional propulsion
systems;
  --The new 1-person category was created to enable faster speeds.  Subshimi,
built by UCSD ASME students, was the first 1-man human powered submarine
built from the keel up for any race, and was successfully operated at the
WCSI'94;
  --Tow buoys, not needed in a basin, were eliminated, allowing submarines to
go faster still;
  --Misfire prone deadman switches, which automatically release an emergency
buoy, were replaced with optional diver activated keelweight releases;
  --Associated K-12 science and technology outreach programs were
successfully implemented.

It was expected most participants would be from colleges and Universities, so
design guidelines and event details were published on-line to make their
access simple.  As a result, the WSI web page won a website award (Top 5%)
based on content and interest.  The International Human Powered Vehicle
Association (IHPVA) joined Guinness in accepting the protocol and
methodology, creating 4 new International awards, for 1- and 2- person, prop
and non-prop human powered submarines.   That year, FA U-Boat broke Sub-Human
II's existing world propeller record.  SubDude's non-propeller record was
challenged, but not broken.

During Christmas break 1995, the first east coast in-basin event was run by a
newly created ISR, independently operating through a private non-profit, and
following the Scripps/WSI example.  The protocol and methodology, written to
protect the integrity of the records and safe conduct of the event, were not
followed and the event was not sanctioned.  Speeds achieved established event
records for the new ISR. 

The 1996 WSI in California saw demonstrations of new divisions for Diver
Propulsion Vehicles and electric submarines join those established for human
powered submarines.   Gold, Silver, and Bronze Champion Medals were struck. 
Opening ceremonies included Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man,"
capturing the feeling of underwater flight, and the rise of human spirit to a
challenge.   Thanks to an Arnold Schwartzennager movie, a mammoth water
heater was available and the San Diego basin was heated to over 80 degrees F.
  Bill Nicoloff's 1-man SubStandard established the new standard for subs. 
SubDude's non-prop record was challenged by two teams, but not broken.

In friendly cooperation with Scripps, FAU-OE sponsored the WSI'97/FAU, the
first Florida open ocean race since 1993, successfully run May 2-4, 1997, in
Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Jennifer Ripple and Sue Fish were event co-directors.  
(A prior story was published on this listserv and is in this month's issue of
Sea Technology.)  That prototype event anticipates a full-scale event in 1999
at FAU-OE's new Dania, FL facility, a short drive south of their main campus.
  The event's success defines an effective new format for offshore events.

In June 1997, the new ISR repeated it's version of the original WSI in-basin
event.  Rather than accept WSI event protocols, event organizers chose to
remain "internally sanctioned," and speeds achieved there challenged existing
ISR event records only.

WSI'98/SIO is planned for summer 1998 in southern California.  Firm dates
have yet to be established.  Speeds of submarines are getting fast enough
that our favored site, the Offshore Model Basin, is becoming a little small
at 300-ft, and may be a bit narrow for the electric boat event.  New venues
are being explored which might be more conducive to the suite of submarine
activities.  WSI organizers recognize their responsibility as event
organizers to select a site appropriate to the safe operation of submarines
attempting to achieve high speeds underwater.  Clear water, without suspended
sediments, well lit, and safe for prolonged human exposure are some of the
basic criteria.  We will continue to meet the other components of the
protocol, originally developed to maximize safety, enhance learning
opportunities, and retain the integrity of the world records.  Jim
Richardson, VP-Underwater Division of the IHPVA, will review and assure
compliance with the established norms.  Questions regarding event protocol
and methodology can be forwarded to him at "richardsonj@psns.navy.mil".

WSI'99/FAU will return with a major open ocean event near Dania, FL.

Through the WSI, Scripps and FAU-OE, together with the IHPVA, are presently
working with a northern European Institution to establish WSI/Europe,
hopefully to run in 1999.  

WSI is a worldclass event grown from the grassroots level by submariners, for
submariners.  Each WSI event has seen the world record for propeller
submarines moved up substantially, and innovative, new design challenges
added at a rate consistent with the growing field of experienced experimental
submariners.  The academic partners, industrial associates, and dedicated
volunteers which today comprise the WSI, have together defined the second and
third evolutions in submarine events.

We are part of the beginning of a new era where cockpit submarines useful to
sport divers, ocean researchers and light commercial divers will be
commonplace.  There are new developments to come, in habitats and life
support systems, and in new working partnerships between government,
industry, and academia.

And possibilities beyond those.

Let's go explore them.


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