BY SARAH CRAIG
For the Daily
Published September 8, 2009
The Human Powered Submarine Team combines Scuba diving, bike riding, engineering and steering in its quest to design, build and race submarines on an international level.
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HPS has taken part in 10 international races to date, including the International Submarine Race in Bethesda, Md., and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Human Powered Submarine Context in Escondido, Calif. In their last international submarine race, the team set a University of Michigan record of 5.05 knots.
During a race, a Scuba diver encloses him or herself in the submarine’s hull, which, once submerged, fills with water. The diver then pedals the submarine like a bicycle while a group of Scuba divers monitors the progress. The submarine with the fastest time wins.
The team’s primary pilot, Patrick Trabert, an Engineering sophomore, said the thrill of speed in the submarine makes the competitions exciting, but that the ability to focus underwater trumps all.
“The best part of competing is getting inside the submarine and being in a completely quiet environment,” he said.
Project Manager Stephen Curtis, an Engineering sophomore, said the team hopes that a new hull it plans to build this year will help them break the school record again and to beat rival Texas A&M at the 2011 ISR.
“We’re trying to get it mostly built so we can test it and be great when the competition rolls around,” he said.
Members of HPS say they benefit greatly from their involvement with this intellectually and creatively stimulating endeavor.
“I joined the team because it was a small team and it provided a unique challenge to be designing for something underwater,” Curtis said. “It pushes you to be creative and challenge yourself a little.”
Curtis said that the club offers its members many benefits, especially in the field of marine engineering. Four former team members are now employed by the Maryland naval base where submarine races are held, he said.
