The prototype Deepsea Challenger submersible that explorer and filmmaker James Cameron piloted to the depths of the Pacific Ocean included components made of carbon fiber composites.
Earlier this year, Cameron completed a record-breaking solo dive in the sub to the Mariana Trench, nearly seven miles down, the deepest place on the planet. He spent more than three hours collecting samples and recording video. (Watch a video interview with Cameron after returning to the surface here.)
The Deepsea Challenger was built by Acheron Project Pty and designed by Design + Industry in Sydney. The novel, vertically-oriented shape of the 24-foot-long submersible lets it get to the bottom faster. Several different novel materials were used in the sub's construction. The 2.5-inch-thick steel pilot sphere inside the sub that surrounded Cameron included a lining of carbon fiber composite material. The material's prepregs were made by UK-based Umeco Structural materials, also known as Advanced Composites Group.
The pilot sphere measures 43 inches in diameter, and contains electronics and life-support equipment, as well as the pilot. It's so small that the pilot must sit with legs tightly bent, and arm movement is very limited. The sphere's carbon fiber internal lining was manufactured by Australian composites parts manufacturer LSM Advanced Composites Pty. (Watch a video showing the pilot sphere below.)
A new material, a syntactic foam called Isofloat, was developed specifically to help the submersible withstand the pressure at the bottom of the ocean, remain buoyant, and return to the surface in the shortest possible time. Made of hundreds of tiny, hollow glass microspheres suspended in polyester resin, this material was used to construct the sub's giant beam. This beam is the largest component and the main structural frame, which is attached to the pilot sphere by polyester straps. The foam takes up about 70 percent of the sub's volume.
A total of 13 research and test dives were made by Cameron and other pilots during the project, which is called the Deepsea Challenge expedition. This expedition is part of a joint scientific project to explore the ocean floor, collect samples, and conduct experiments, among Cameron, the National Geographic Society, and Rolex.
Independent vehicles can descend to the depths of the Mariana Trench, but it is a more difficult engineering solution for ROV's. Woods Hole Oceanographic sent a hydrid vehicle (can operate completely independent or with a fiber optic cable for communication) to the bottom of the trench a few years ago - the Nereus.
Sending a manned vehicle down to that depth is a huge engineering feat and shows the determination to design and build a vehicle that can withstand the environment and sustain human life at the same time.
ROV's have a limitation with the power cable that controls their maneuvering, the length of the cable (over 8,000 meters) becomes an excessive force on the winch assembly. At times the weight of the cable can be more than it's rated load, without the vehicle at the bitter end.
Glenn, ROVs are not usually engineered to dive anywhere near this deep--7 miles--because of the incredible pressure. From what I've seen, most of them can descend a few thousand meters.
Could an ROV have done the same exploration ? Deep sea exploration, while very expensive, is still not as costly as space exploration. There are some deep-diving submarines available to wealthy and determined persons. Will Sir Richard Branson eventually branch out from Space Ship 2 to deep sea 'flights' ?
It's amazing the range of James Cameron's interests and skills. Not only is he a brilliant film director, but he's really been a pioneer of science, technology, and engineering, particularly as it relates to ocean expedition. There's so much to be gained from this work, and the lessons around engineering will find their way into numerous industries and applications--of that, I have no doubt.
Inspired by the hooks a parasitic worm uses to penetrate its host's intestines, the Karp Lab has invented a flexible adhesive patch covered with microneedles that adheres well to wet, soft tissues, but doesn't cause damage when removed.
Engineers at the University of California, San Diego are designing a robotic arm that takes inspiration from the loose, flexible, yet very strong structure of the armored plates on a seahorse's tail.
Researchers at the Missouri University of Science & Technology have designed a new nanoscale material that can transmit light faster than the 186,000 miles per second it usually takes to travel through air.
It has often been said that as California goes, so goes the nation. This spring, the state's wind power is setting energy generation records and solar energy generation is expected to rise sharply during the second half of 2013.
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