The Human-powered Submarine

“The major differences between the professional, competition scull (pictured here) and the boatclub version is that the later one would be cheaper, smaller and have a smaller turning radius” said Milko.”

In its Olympic guise, the 9.5 metre-long Uscull employs the very latest in energy-efficient technologies, such as a “nano-scale, Teflon-coated, artificial sharkskin surface to minimise the frictional losses from surface drag.”

The "top of the range" Uscull is entirely covered in this material, apart from the glass areas that offer the rowers an underwater vista rarely available to the public.

“To give the users a sensation of normal rowing, with resistance isolated to one stage of the rowing cycle, and to prevent the oars from killing the speed on their forward pull, I developed a "sling-shot" type mechanism, that forces the oars through the water with the energy stored from the rowers pull. And the folding blades are essentially to prevent the scull from braking on the oars forward rotation.”

“Only the “loading” of the oars require force. This gives the oarsmen an opportunity to prepare for the dynamic stroke that will load the mechanism. Furthermore, all glass areas can be replaced with translucent sharkskin panels for increased performance during Olympic competition races, for example. In these cases cameras would aid the rowers to align the nose with the target.”

One of the obvious questions was “how much would Uscull cost?”, a question Milko leaves open. “It all depends on production methods, development costs and material use”

“If I built it with all the materials I’d like to use, as a showcase of modern materials and technology, it’d probably cost more than a Formula 1 car,” he laughs.

Unfortunately for the Uscull and all those who no-doubt are reading this article and drooling at the possibility of obtaining one, Milko’s obvious talents have already been acquired. Immediately upon graduation he was hired as an automotive designer by the Nissan Design Centre in Tokyo where he has found a new home. “I love my work and I have a love-at-first-sight relationship with Tokyo.” said Milko.

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