Non-Propeller Propulsion System for a Human Powered Submarine

Abstract

The University of Michigan Human Powered Submarine Team (HPS) designs and builds a single person internally flooded submarine to compete in the International Submarine Races: http://www.isrsubrace.org/docs/13th-ISR-Manual.pdf HPS has a long standing tradition of propeller driven submarines, but this year HPS would like to compete in both the propeller and non-propeller categories. A propeller system is defined as a water-coupled device with radiating blades that create thrust when spinning. A non-propeller system is defined as any other water coupled device that creates thrust. The goal of this project is to design, build, and test a non-propeller propulsion module that can be easily switched with the propeller propulsion module. This new module will connect to the preexisting drive-train.