A human-powered submarine designed and built by a team of Everett and Edmonds Community College students finished ninth in the International Submarine Races in Bethesda, Md.
Competing for the first time, the students entered their 12-foot “Triton” submarine in the two-person, propeller-driven category. The team faced 18 competitors including universities, government agencies, corporations, research labs and individuals during the five days of racing, June 27-July 1.
The race was held at the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center in a 3,200-foot-long, 22-foot-deep pool. The team’s submarine, the only entry from community college students, reached a top speed of 3.38 knots.
The submarine was the culmination of about eight months of work and collaboration between students in Everett’s engineering and Edmonds’ materials science technology program. Everett Community College students created the propulsion system and the helm control design for the submarine, while Edmonds Community College students built the outer hull.
The self-stabilizing, hydrodynamic submarine uses composite and traditional materials. The sub has a strong, but light, fiberglass hull bound with waterproof epoxy resin and a polycarbonate nose for clarity and high-impact strength.
The competition aimed to inspire students to advance underwater technologies such as sub sea vehicle hydrodynamics, propulsion and life support systems. It also gives students a chance to put what they’ve learned into practice. They built a wet submarine capable of submerging and carrying two team members (equipped with scuba gear) – one to drive, the other to provide the power.
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