With a measly ’stroke to motion’ conversion rate of 3 percent, humans are certainly the least equipped for underwater swimming. Sure as eggs, they need a booster or ‘powered swimming’ - the stuff of James Bond movies.
With a glider-like device, DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) assures its Navy SEALS of a 150 percent increase in efficiency, which translates to less effort and faster speeds. For all you know, you could beat even the Great White Shark in an underwater sprint.
PowerSwim is a contraption with hinged foils that move up and down to simulate the fin movement of a dolphin, a creature naturally designed for the best swimming efficiency. When the foils move, lift and thrust are generated to help the diver move greater distances in far lesser time with the same effort. The lead or propulsion foil of the device reduces the effort swimmers produce inside the expanding cone, which is formed alongside the shoulders when they spread their hands.
The result - SEALS can reach their targets faster and get less exhausted.
Divers take around 2 hours to learn how to use the PowerSwim. They can discard the equipment when they reach land. The PowerSwim can be used along with scuba diving gear and other breathing equipment. Currently, the agency is working towards streamlining the concept for better efficiency and the device is expected to be launched next year.
Via: popularmechanics
