Florida Atlantic’s HPS Team Wins Second Place at International Submarine Race

The Florida Atlantic College of Engineering and Computer Science (COECS) Human-Powered Submarine (HPS) team from the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering recently placed second overall at the 2024 European International Submarine Races (eISR) in Gosport, England. This competition challenges university teams worldwide to design, build, and race human-powered submarines through a slalom course at QinetiQ’s Ocean Basin, one of the world’s largest indoor freshwater tanks.

The Florida Atlantic team submarine, named Owlbacore, was carefully designed for speed and reliability. The hull, modeled after series 58's model 4165, minimizes drag and maximizes efficiency underwater. The submarine features a manual steering system inspired by successful past designs, prioritizing simplicity and durability over complex electronics. Post-race improvements enhanced Owlbacore's performance, earning the team the Communications and Reliability awards.

Founded in 1989, the HPS team at Florida Atlantic has a history of designing and racing human-powered submarines, achieving multiple wins and speed records. These submarines operate entirely on the pilot's physical effort, without any pre-charged energy storage. Energy can be stored during the race if produced by human effort, such as pedaling. Pilots use SCUBA gear for breathing, and the submarines are designed with controlled buoyancy and innovative propulsion systems.

The Florida Atlantic team at the competition included:

• Twain Glas, Team Captain and Graduate Ocean Engineering Student
• Benjamin Holt, Team Engineer and Undergraduate Ocean Engineering Student
• Simon Trax, Team Engineer and Undergraduate Ocean Engineering Student
• Robert Mascia, Pilot and Undergraduate Business Student
• Ethan Garcia, Deadman Buoy Lead and Undergraduate Ocean Engineering Student
• Emily Serrano, Communications & Marketing, Biological Anthropology & Neuroscience Student
• Jacob Denson, Steering Systems Lead and Undergraduate Ocean Engineering Student
• Isabela Kennedy, Undergraduate Ocean Engineering Student
• Zade Micallef, Undergraduate Ocean Engineering Student
• Erik Staggs, Undergraduate Ocean Engineering Student

The team was mentored by Pierre-Philippe Beaujean, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering at Florida Atlantic, and Fred Knapp, senior machinist at Florida Atlantic. Mr. Burke Murray, retired US Navy personnel, also provided key insight and recommendations in the design of the new hull. 

The team also received a generous sponsorship from the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic and from the Styles-Nicholson Foundation.

“I am very proud of our Human Powered Submarine team,” said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., Dean of the Florida Atlantic College of Engineering and Computer Science. “It is a powerhouse club within the College of Engineering and Computer Science that has been positioned prominently throughout the years on the international stage.”

The team is preparing to compete at the Subracing Series competition on September 21 in Playa de Arinaga, a small coastal town in the Canary Islands, where they will also compete with Owlbacore. 

For more information about the College of Engineering and Computer Science, visit eng.fau.edu, and for information about the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, visit ome.fau.edu.