Hybrid Solar Sub

The Scarlet Knight model of the Slocum Glider provides great inspiration for the development of Hybrid watercraft. If the Scarlet Knight can complete a Transatlantic crossing without propulsion we should also be able to spend a fair bit of time gliding within our chosen waters without propulsion as well. The main things I am wondering are what is the greatest distance a personal submarine could glide during a descent of 100 feet and what speeds could be obtained during descent. I assume that the longer the glide path is , the slower the speed of the submarine will be.

 

Without propulsion, a vessel will not move.

 

it's being used for instrument probes

 

Anyone around here still taking this lunatic for serious? He wastes our time, and server space, thats all.

 

The Slocum Gliders are propelled by alternating influences of gravity and buoyancy. They have no other form of propulsion. A personal sub could rely primarily upon gravity and buoyancy with the addition of electric propulsion for fine steering, transport from the marina to the initial divepoint and transport back to the marina after submerged travel. Manned submersible gliders can allegedly achieve speeds of up to 10 miles per hour solely from the influences of gravity and buoyancy. That is more than fast enough for an enjoyable underwater cruise.

 

can it charge cordless power tools at the same time?


p.s. sunlight isn't very strong under water....

 

Solar -wind charging would be done at the docking station while the sub is not in use. Depending on the speed of travel I am wondering if the gliding sub could obtain some charging while gliding. Additional charging while gliding may not be a relevant concern because of time limits imposed by air supply. I'm also wondering about using waste air and discharged water ballast to propel manned submersible gliders.

 

No, no and no.

What part of Canada are you in?

-Tom

 

I assume you are not a fan of the submersible glider concept.I think it may be the only practical way of producing true non carbon fueled hybrid small watercraft.I've tried researching the subject on line but there seems to be a real shortage of meaningful data on submarines in general. There are a few gorgeous submersible gliders pictured here and there but I haven't found many details regarding them.

I've been condemned to the icy mud flats of Alberta for the past 40 years. Around here boats are more fantasy than reality because there is no where to enjoy them locally. Even rafting here on major rivers means you spend a good deal of time pulling your craft over mud and gravel bars. I see a canoe or kayak on the water about once every year or two. It's probably been about 10 years since I saw an actual boat on the water in Alberta. Many newcomers have small powerboats in their driveways but they don't seem to ever get used.

 

A submersible glider may not have a propeller, but it still needs a power source. Expelling water from buoyancy tanks at 100 feet down requires quite a bit of air pressure, and thus quite a bit of power to pressurize that air in the first place.

 

A manned submersible glider would definitely need a propeller and sufficient battery power to deal with luxuries, emergencies and surface drive. A short burst of powered propulsion would help speed up controllable ascent and descent.

 

The scientific community has used propless gliders for some time.

I learned to sail as a child in Alberta, acquired my SCUBA certification there and kept an ice sailing boat for three yearsl on the beautiful, windy ice flats of Ghost Lake west of Calgary.

Your research sucks Questor.

-Tom

 

I am the secret inventor of perpetual motion. I can send a packaged portion of it for $500.00. Write to scamsinmalasia.com
Come on, do you really claim to move a submersible or anything else without spending energy?

 

A scuba divers wet suit helps deal with the cold water here in Alberta. It also looks more fashionable than wearing a parka while at the lake in July. Ice sailing is definitely the best boating opportunity in Alberta if you consider an ice sailing rig to be a boat.

The internet sucks as an instrument for research.Yesterday I tried following some of the personal sub links both here and elsewhere. Most of them lead to dead ends. I've always been fascinated by personal subs but I've never been fortunate enough to find any worthwhile material on the subject. The Slocum Glider challenges me to look harder.

 

Your skepticism reminds of the " Modern Mariners Motto " , " To Timidly Only Follow Where Many Have Gone Before .".