Propeller based human powered swimming device

Abstract

Currently the only human powered swimming device widely sold on the market are swim flippers. However, flippers are not efficient for the human body, and there is a potential to increase the speed while swimming with a device. This thesis is the planning, design, construction, and prototyping of a new human powered swimming device which increases human efficiency and speed in water. This device uses a squatting motion to drive counter rotating propellers up and down a threaded shaft creating the propulsion force to move the swimmer forward. The design of this device is primarily geared towards scuba divers and swimmers moving beneath the water surface. Through various tests we were able to prove that the design concept is valid, but alterations are still necessary to reach optimal speed. One such improvement would be enlarging the size of the propeller to increase the force generated with each leg thrust.