Development and Testing of an Underwater Scooter Model

Abstract

A diver propulsion vehicle (DPV) is a device used by scuba divers to help pull them through the ocean without the use of additional exertion. The objective of this re-search project was to build a diver propulsion vehicle (DPV), or underwater scooter as it came to be known. The scooter would have to reliably pull an adult through water and allow neutral buoyancy whereby the user would neither submerge to the bottom nor float to the surface. The entire system would also need to be waterproof to protect the elec-tronics and sustain the life of the scooter. The prototype also had to be durable and able to function for an extended period of time. Finally, the scooter had to be built at a rela-tively low cost. A combination of relevant mechanical engineering, electrical engineer-ing, and programming programing skills were required to design and assemble a working prototype. The first prototype did not fulfill the given requirements, but upgrades to this initial model generated a more efficient design. Further upgrades could improve the style, speed, and efficiency of the underwater scooter. Over time, some aspects of the de-sign, with upgrades, could have commercial applicability.