Engineering students set to build a human submarine

A group of Warwick engineering students are building a human submarine as part of the four-day European International Submarine Race in July.

‘Warwick Sub’ will compete with global opposition and be judged on speed, design and performance. Additional prizes will be awarded for top speed, agility, innovation and manufacturing.

The team is aiming to beat the speed record of 8.09mph, currently held by a Montreal team.

In order to take part, they need to raise enough funds to manufacture the submarine.

They will have access to world-class technologies through the School of Engineering and the Warwick Manufacturing Group, including 3D printing.

Cameron Blackwell, submarine pilot and former president of the Warwick Sub Aqua Club, said: “There are a multitude of challenges we face in the design, manufacture and testing of the submarine on top of organisational aspects such as sponsorship.”

“We hope our entry emerges victorious in all categories, but in order to do any of this we need help and are searching for a potential business to sponsor us.”

“Of course, the biggest challenge is to produce a submarine that has both speed and agility.”

Dr Ian Tuersley, team supervisor, added: “This group project gets students from the various engineering disciplines working together much as they would need to in real industries and businesses after graduation.”

“Warwick has a proven history of doing well in similar competitions, and we hope this team will do the same.”

Richard Belton, a third-year engineering student not taking part in the competition, commented: “I think it is really great that us engineering students are starting to work on such interesting projects as part of our degrees.”

“Work like Warwick Sub and also the long running Formula Student competition are both really exciting projects and things I myself hope to work on in the future.”