For the past 70 years, the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Laboratory has conducted ocean research and engineering.
Now they are teaming up with a local submersible company to build an innovative five-person submarine that would travel to almost 2 miles below the ocean’s surface.
When completed in 2016, it will be the first deep-sea manned submersible project for the UW.
“What a terrific asset for the UW to have access to one of the few available manned submarines in the U.S.,” said principal investigator Robert Miyamoto, who directs the lab’s industry and defense programs. “If someday students routinely had the opportunity to go on a manned sub I think the research in deep-ocean science would explode.”
The submarine, named Cyclops, has a carbon-fiber hull that can take passengers to 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) – deeper than all but a handful of existing subs.
“Most people don’t appreciate there are not very many private or commercial subs,” said Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate Inc., an Everett, Wash., company that charters submarines. He says there are about 600 military subs worldwide, but only about 100 certified civilian subs, and most of those are on private yachts or in storage.
For the past year and a half, members of Miyamoto’s team have leased a campus lab with OceanGate. The group has gone through more than 20 prototype designs before settling on the recently unveiled plan.
The carbon-fiber hull is shaped like a bullet that can plunge down to depth in less than 60 minutes. Once the vessel reaches depth, it rotates to its cruising orientation. The passenger seats pivot in order to stay upright.
The Boeing Company worked with OceanGate and the UW on initial design analysis of the 7-inch-thick pressure vessel. The design uses a strategy where each strip of carbon fiber and resin is precisely placed to ensure that there will be no gaps or weak points. The battery will be a lithium-polymer design that will also make the sub lighter and able to dive longer and faster than traditional subs.
The front viewing area, for which the vehicle is named, is designed as a 5-foot-wide dome of 4-inch-thick glass. Passengers will sit inside the dome to have a 180-degree view.
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Deep-sea manned submarine
- The Navy's Seawolf-Class Submarine Nightmare Has Just Begun
The U.S. Navy's Seawolf-class submarines, with a cost of $3.5 billion each, represent some of the most advanced undersea warfare technology ever developed, boasting capabilities that remain a concern ...
- 5 Active Hydrothermal Vents Discovered Deep in Eastern Pacific Ocean—What Does This Mean?
Situated at a depth of 2,550 meters, these vents represent fascinating phenomena where scorching water erupts through the ocean floor.
- Luxurious bubble submarine set to take passengers into depths of the sea
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how Triton Submarines redefines the underwater experience with the Triton 660/9 AVA, which offers panoramic views and unparalleled ocean access.
- RAW VIDEO: Incredible Bubble Submarine Takes Passengers To The Sea Floor In Style
Credit: Triton Submarines A Florida-based company has unveiled designs for a next-gen submarine that offers spectacular views 660ft under the sea. Triton Submarines' state-of-the-art submersible is po ...
- How ‘game-changer’ Ukrainian torpedo sub designed to be the fighter jet of the sea could help win Black Sea battle
UKRAINIAN engineers have built a stealth torpedo-launching submarine designed for hit-and-run missions to destroy enemy warships. Analysts have tipped the streamline beast, known as Kronos, to ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Deep-sea manned submarine
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Deep-sea manned submarine” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Ocean research
- Weaker ocean currents lead to decline in nutrients for North Atlantic ocean life during prehistoric climate change
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have finished investigating how the prehistoric weakening of a major ocean current led to a decline in ocean nutrients and negative impacts on North ...
- Transformation of ocean management is underway, study finds
Marine ecosystem-based management is a growing practice of ocean stewardship and conservation that offers benefits to the production of healthy, local ...
- DARPA's autonomous 'Manta Ray' drone can glide through ocean depths undetected
Northrop Grumman Corporation has built its Manta Ray uncrewed underwater vehicle, which will operate long-duration missions and carry payloads into the ocean depths in partnership with DARPA.
- A Shaggy, Sting-y night by the ocean raises more than $4 million for AIDS research
Among the celebs spotted were Barry Gibb, Tom Ford, Julianna Margulies, Kris Jenner, Corey Gamble, Sly and Jennifer Flavin Stallone. and Shaggy.
- A rare glimpse at a leading Canadian ocean research facility
Ocean gliders and sensors that track fish around the world will be on display at Dalhousie University this weekend to mark a very special anniversary. Paul Withers has the story.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Ocean research
[google_news title=”” keyword=”ocean research” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]