The Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences’ Submarine Team’s winning streak shows no sign of abating. The university’s latest submarine, named Chelonia, has won the sustainability award at the European International Submarine Race in Gosport, England.
Whether in Washington in the US, in Gosport in England or on the Spoy Canal here in Kleve – students from the Faculty of Technology and Bionics at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW) consistently enjoy success in international student submarine competitions. Professor Dr William Megill, Professor of Bionics at HSRW, founded the Submarine Team in 2012 as a student project. Since then, the team has taken part several times in the biennial European International Submarine Race in the UK, successfully competing against submarine teams from universities around the world.
Now, the submarine developed by students from the Faculty of Technology and Bionics has impressed the British jury with its sustainability concept: the hull of ‘Chelonia’ is made from two separable materials, PETG and aluminium, and is fully recyclable. At the race in Gosport, the new submarine was put through its paces in competition for the first time and was immediately awarded the sustainability prize.
The race rules are strict: to be eligible, the students must design and build the submarine themselves, a process that took months of work. This was followed by training for the five-member submarine team. Visitors were already able to admire the successful design at the campus festival in May.
The uniqueness of this submarine lies, apart from the recyclable construction materials, in its special propulsion mechanism: the pilot, Oskar Neumann, is inside the submarine and propels it using his own muscle power. The propulsion system was modelled – in the spirit of bionics – on animals, in this case fish and penguins.
“It was incredibly exciting to be part of it. Interacting with the other teams was great fun, and at the same time we learnt a lot again,” says team captain Sophia Felicia Salome Döring. “Of course, we were on tenterhooks during the competition, wondering whether our design would pass the test in the end. And then, naturally, it’s brilliant to see that our hard work has paid off, especially when you’re competing against the world’s best in an international competition like this. The result makes me proud of our team.” In addition to the team, she extends her thanks in particular to the Förderverein Campus Cleve e.V. and the Förderverein Hochschule Rhein-Waal e.V. Both support associations provided crucial backing for our participation in the competition through their generous donations.
The next race has already been confirmed. It will take place in September 2024 in the Canary Islands. Participation in this event is also possible thanks to the support of the two support associations.
