hernando county schools 11 th international human powered submarine race – june, 2011

Hernando County Schools11th International Human Powered Submarine

Race – June, 2011

OverviewPrevious VersionsPhilosophy

Single pilot Propeller Torpedo-shaped hull Pivot steering

Started in 1991 as a two-person sub.

In 2003, a new, single-pilot sub was made for the 7th ISR.

Since then, it has been subject to many modifications.

Focus on:◦ Improving and perfecting

Steering cable system New propellers

◦ Handcraft everything

HullControl SurfacesPropulsionLife Support and SafetyHatch and Emergency Buoy

Built for the 2003 ISR (22”H x 20”W x 11’6”L).

General form shaped with NACA 66-0015 coordinates.◦ Fiberglass shells crafted from mold

◦ Halves joined

Plexiglass (¼”) window installed. In 2007, knee pods were built into the hull.

Cable-controlled rudder and dive planes steer the sub◦ Joystick control◦ Stationary horizontal

stabilizers Four stationary

pivot fins established a pivot point

Propeller-driven◦ A bike crank turns a spiral bevel gear which turns

the prop. This year two new props were designed

◦ An MA409 wing shape was used to hopefully improve performance by 10% Bottom wing chord is concave to improve water flow off

the rear.◦ Both props are thinner and more polished, differing

in diameter.

SCUBA◦ Air tank strapped in

the rear◦ Regulator and hose

fed up to front Spare Air Bow is heavily

reinforced

The hatch lock is closed with a spring-loaded lock.◦ A safety cable connects to a latch-pin on the hatch

allowing quick release.◦ A clearly marked outside lever assures that outside

help has access to the pilot.

The emergency buoy is also spring-loaded.◦ Floats up when control lever is released.

TestingTraining

Primary testing locations ◦ Gulf of Mexico◦ Weeki Wachee River

Weeki Wachee’s clear waters offered the perfect testing environment.

The new team members became certified SCUBA divers.

Weekly testing/training sessions with both submarines took place in the Gulf.◦ Learning the

loading/unloading procedure and how to pilot the submarine.

Sessions provided an abundant amount of swim and SCUBA practice time.

Testing in the Weeki Wachee River

Team with Sublime submarine

Team with SeaWolf submarine

Team members

not pictured in team photos