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Most amazing eco friendly personal submarines

There is a thing about submarines that instantaneously makes one think about spies and marines, naval missions and underwater adventures. But there are some people who have taken their underwater discovery machine to the next level and created something that is sleek, stylish and remarkably environment friendly. Here are ten of the most amazing eco-friendly submarines.

Pedal powered submarine

Designed by Ted Ciamillo, the ‘wet’ mini-submarine is just 1.2 meters wide and 5 meters long. But it is the right size to accommodate a human who can pedal and power the machine. As the submarine is not air tight, the buoyancy needed to float on the water is provided by PVC foam packed into a shell. The simple design offers Ciamillo to come to the surface or go underwater by emptying or filling the air bladders. The body of the submarine is made of light weight but sturdy material. When he is underwater, pedaling the submarine, Ciamillo uses a scuba gear to breathe.

Battery powered personal submarine promises green undersea adventure

Here is a submarine that comes with all gadgets you can think of but is run on batteries making it super cool and super eco-friendly. Designed by Hammacher Schlemmer the submarine is propelled by two 3hp thrusters to provide fore, aft and direction control and a couple of 3hp vertical/translational thrusters to help with precise positioning.

The submarine is equipped with a VHF Radio, barometer, thermometer, hydrometer, depth gauges, fluxgate and magnetic compasses, magnetic clinometers, pressure gauges and a GPS receiver. It can operate non-stop for 6 hours, weighs 3000 kgs and can go till a depth of 1000 km. Priced at $2 million, this eco sub is a class apart.

The Scubster

This is yet another efficient design of a pedal powered submarine. The scubster is made out of carbon fiber and has special built-in control devices that can help the rider navigate the submarine, up, down, right-left and also moving forward and back. This submarine comes with an average speed of 10kph and has been designed by Minh-Lôc Truong and a team of University engineers.

U-Boat Worx introduces green submarines to go deep water

Dutch luxury submarine manufacturers U-Boat Worx have improved upon their design of an earlier model called C-Quester and come up with the more powerful C-Explorers range of green submarines. These can go deeper into the waters with diving to depths from 100 to 1,000m. to provide with better viewing once under sea, the new design also incorporates a catamaran style body with a fully acrylic transparent pressure hull.

The C-Explorer also can be loaded with a variety of optional accessories like robotic manipulator arms, underwater navigation systems, high-definition video cameras and an integrated remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that can be controlled from inside the submarine.

There are also a range of models to choose from depending on the passenger seats. Numbered from 1 to 5 the submarines accommodate 1 to 5 passengers. The 1-seater is powered by a 10 kWh lithium-ion battery while other models are powered by 40 kWh lithium-ion battery.

Not forgetting the luxury aspect of their Subs, the company has also equipped the subs with air-conditioning systems, iPod stereo dock and champagne cooler. What’s more the luxurious ride can be enjoyed for almost 12 hours non-stop. Price ranges from $358,377 for the one-seater model to $1.07 million for the five-seater.

Raonhaje’s EGO personal semi-submarine makes undersea exploration greener and exciting

Korean company Raonhaje has developed this eco submarine EGO that comes with a easy to operate design system. Powered by 12 8-volt marine batteries the sub can easily accommodate 2 to 3 people. It has a compact circular mass with two winged, podded propulsion units. The best part is the steering system that is similar to a car’s system. This allows someone with no working knowledge of operating a submarine, go for a marine adventure with ease. Fully charged battery can take you at top speed of 5 knots for 4 hours or at a reduced speed for 8 hours. Already being called world’s first semi compact submarine, Ego is currently available for test sailing and will commercially launch in October 2011.

Super Falcon submarine dives airplane style

This is not a submarine at least that is what the appearance makes you think. It looks like an airplane and even travels in the water like an air plane soaring through the water instead of rising up or down like a traditional submarine. There are noly two of this kind in the world, and the manufacturers Hawkes Ocean Technologies have ensured that no marine animals are injured or disturbed because of this water machine. There are blue-green lasers on the wingtips casting 100-foot beams to help riders see ahead without the full glare of the headlights. For the safety of marine animals all electrical components have been shielded so that the electric fields do not drive the animals away from the sub. Also, positive buoyancy makes sure the submarine rises to the surface in case the batteries or the motor fail.

Made-From-Scratch Submarine

Tao Xiangli, a man from China has truly shown where there is a will there is a way. The Chinese has spent less than $5 000 to create a hand-crafted submarine made out of low cost metal barrels. It took him two years to create his sub that is 20 feet long and weighs 1.6 tons. Tao uses his creation to charter the waters near Beijing. Propelled by an electric motor, the sub has a periscope and a depth control tank. Although there is room only for one person, it also has pressure meters, monitoring cameras, a TV set, oxygen supply and headlights. It serves the purpose and serves the ecology to really well.

Pig Trough Submarine

When other boys his age were busy playing with paper boats, Swiss boy Aaron Kreier from Eschlikon in the Thurgau was creating his submarine out of old farm equipments. Since the age of 10 Aaron has been working on his submarine and today, the 14 year old has successfully created a submarine out of a pig trough, called the ENDO – Extreme Nautical Deep Office. He was given special permission to test it at the harbor docks and amazed everyone with his 15 minutes maiden voyage. His ultimate dream is to use it to navigate underwater of lake Constance. The young innovator is sure to explore many other shores as he grows up.

Scuba-Doo Underwater Motorcycle

A scuba diver usually has to wear a face mask, attach a mouthpiece and have air tanks attached to body with breathing tubes. Taking the same scuba gear a step ahead and attaching it to a motor bike has resulted in the invention of the Scuba-doo underwater motorcycle. This bike has a breathing dome that can be worn by the rider covering his head and shoulders. There is no discomfort of removing specs or lenses and the rider does not also need to wear a mask or a mouthpiece. The air tanks are mounted on the scuba bike. This leaves the rider with ample movement and speed to travel around the marine shores and go underwater. Travelling at a rate of 2.5 knots the bike can be extremely advantageous for people who are not good swimmers or feel uncomfortable with the scuba gear. The bike can carry enough air for 1 hour of travel and the battery life is approximately 1.5 hours.

GOLDFISH project: World’s first solar powered submarine

Swiss energy company BKW has pioneered in conceptualizing the first ever solar powered submarine to be powered by a floating solar array. Taking inspiration from a water lilly, the solar platform will float on water with five solar panel satellites surrounding it. This contraption will be able to produce 30 kilowatts of electricity. With a weight of up to 80 tons, the 30 meter long, 10 meter high submarine has been designed to accommodate 24 people. These riders will be ferried from shores to the solar platform from where they can take a tour in the creative sub capable of going 300 m under water.

The swiss company is now looking for investors for this Goldfish Project which is estimated to cost $ 8.5 million.

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