A pedal-powered submarine formulated at the University of Bath is to feature on a Channel 5 programme tonight (Monday).
The Gadget Show is to feature the handiwork of BURST (Bath Uni Racing Submarine Team) who, over a two year period, have designed, built, funded and raced pedal-powered subs.
Why, might you ask? Well, Bath is the only entry in the biannual International Submarine Races, held in a U.S Naval base in Washington DC. The competition is based around top speeds and is held in the eight-metre deep, mile-long testing tank at the base, with the top boats achieving in excess of 8 knots, or 9.2mph in old money.
The “SeaBomb” and “Sulis”, the two existing Bath submarines, have both been road tested, so to speak, and in tonight's programme, presenter Suzie Perry will be seen having a go in the Seabomb and even racing it against the other sub the Sulis around the 25m pool at the University.
The project is headed up by Dr. William Megill and is part of the ocean technologies laboratory which carries out research into many different areas, including autonomous underwater vehicles and of course submarines, road.cc contributor Trevor Allen is also part of the team… he'll be stickering the sub up for future voyages.
The sub is about 12 foot long and is completely flooded for safety reasons, meaning the pilot breaths using Scuba equipment. Both submarines use innovative biomimetic propulsion systems. This means they don’t use propellers but whale-inspired oscillating fins to provide the thrust.
As fossil fuels begin to run out, pedal-power is being looked at as a credible and increasingly hi-tech alternative. A New Zealand cyclist has developed a human-powered monorail system based around a recumbent bicycle, impressing visitors queuing up to use it on a 200-metre track in Rotorua, North Island.
Called the Shweeb – the name is derived from the German verb ‘schweben’, which means ‘to float’ or ‘suspend’ – its inventor, Geoffrey Barnet, hopes that the concept may provide a solution for people looking to get around congested cities.
And last year, a Frenchman attempted to cross the English channel using a mini air balloon powered by a carbon fibre bike. He didn't make it, but not for lack of preparation or due to technical failure - the wind put the kibosh on his crossing by unexpectedly changing direction when he was only 11 miles from his destination on the French coast.
That's a really dumb conflation..
Unfortunately it's not on the legal definitive map of PROWs (it should be) so the developer or whomever is getting away with it
And tandems...
Better to keep your mouth shut and people think you're a prick than to open it so that people know you're a prick
Car crashes into wall behind Natwest in Winchester https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/24216676.photos-car-crashes-wa...
Standard driver responses - what a grim world view to go through life with, full of resentment and bitterness. ...
One way to find out is to put a member of the driver's family on the bike and ask them to repeat the manoeuvre.
The legal position has been pretty much settled since DDA in 1995 - reasonable adjustments. Though LTN 1/20 and Inclusive Mobility helpd determine...
This was in my local park and dogs are allowed off-lead. Cyclists are required to ride slowly and give due care and attention as it happens.
Something worth pointing out that's not mentioned in the article is with the Di2 buttons - the functions are not restricted to single presses, each...