Anyone know anything about DARPA's PowerSwim?

[REVAN]

A few years ago I remember a bunch of chatter about DARPA developing (or redeveloping) a device called PowerSwim that was based on the old Aqueon concept. It was supposed to be a kind of foil-based human powered DPV replacement for combat swimmers. There was all this talk about how great it was and they were going to rush it into production, but now I can't find any information on it that is less than 3 years old. I have sent DARPA a request to find out what happened to it, but have not heard anything back yet.

Does anyone out there know anything about what happened to PowerSwim?

Is any one else interested in lightweight PowerSwim style DPV alternatives to the heavy battery powered workhorses of industry standards?

 

[scraphound]

a bit of info on Lunocet Monofin and PowerSwim here MONOFIN My guess is PowerSwim either worked so well that they made it secret, or it didn't work out so they lost interest. The Lunocet Monofin sounds interesting... a bit price-riskey however for something that's not main-stream and proven.

 

[REVAN]

Thanks for the reply scraphound. I never did get a response form DARPA. The project appears to be closed and there is no longer a contact person listed to get any information. It seems to be all gone; vanished without a trace.

 

[REVAN]

Interesting competition for DARPA's PowerSwim here: James Bond Would Love this X-15 SCUBA Ready Monofin - YouTube

My impression: From this video, the DOL-Fin X-15 monofin system appears to function far superior to the videos I have seen of PowerSwim. In addition to appearing to be faster (from which we can assume it is also more efficient), the X-15 looks to be more compact, a lot more maneuverable and more practical to use.

What do you think?

FYI - The DARPA video for their PowerSwim device is here: PowerSwim by Jay Lowell, DSO Program Manager - YouTube

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Interesting competition for DARPA's PowerSwim here: James Bond Would Love this X-15 SCUBA Ready Monofin - YouTube

My impression: From this video, the DOL-Fin X-15 monofin system appears to function far superior to the videos I have seen of PowerSwim. In addition to appearing to be faster (from which we can assume it is also more efficient), the X-15 looks to be more compact, a lot more maneuverable and more practical to use.

What do you think?

FYI - The DARPA video for their PowerSwim device is here: PowerSwim by Jay Lowell, DSO Program Manager - YouTube

I haven’t used the DOL-Fin X-15, but like the concept. I bought my original Aqueon in the early 1970s, and have had it ever since. The Aqueon is fine for surface swimming, but has one overiding disadvantage in that it comes up too high on the torso, and so inhibits any bending forward, such as is required for a surface dive. My first dives with the Aqueon were in 1972, and I did successfully use it with scuba. But is is awkward to use underwater. I still have mine, but had to rebuild one of the blades as I had lost it in the interveining years. So it is again complete, and I’ll probably take it into the water in the Clackamas or Tualatin Rivers this summer.

I have developed my own underwater swimming technique/device which I feel is much superior to either the Aqueon or the PowerSwim.

The PowerSwim is simply an update of the Aqueon, with the same limitations. Maneuvering underwater is awkward, and while the Aqueon was easy to dismount, the PowerSwim appears to be much more complex to get out of. The PowerSwim is probably more comfortable with its update attachments, but doesn’t appear to be instantly dismounted.

I’ll get some more photos later.

 

[OTF]

I have developed my own underwater swimming technique/device which I feel is much superior to either the Aqueon or the PowerSwim.

Can you tell more about this? Images?

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Can you tell more about this? Images?

How about a video? I call my new technique for underwater swimming the “Sea Turtle-Dolphin” technique, as it combines a forward unit and the dolphin kick for efficiency. Note that I can maneuver effectively, which. I cannot on the Aqueon. By the way, the first generation forward unit is simply the Aqueon propulstive blades with handles, held in front of me. I’m now on my fourth generation forward unit, based on the style of a sea lion’s front flippers.


Just so you’ll know, I have proven this Sea Turtle-Dolphin technique for underwater swimming in the Clackamas River in very high current situations. On one dive, I used the techique to swim in the current while tracking and videoing the spawning habits of lampreys in the Clackamas River.

Let me know what you think. This short video is the result of over 4 decades of experimentation for the forward unit. Also, are you on LinkedIn? I’m thinking about compiling my decades of experimentation in underwater swimming techniques for a paper I’ll self-publish in LinkedIn.

SeaRat

 

[lowwall]

How about a video? I call my new technique for underwater swimming the “Sea Turtle-Dolphin” technique, as it combines a forward unit and the dolphin kick for efficiency. Note that I can maneuver effectively, which. I cannot on the Aqueon. By the way, the first generation forward unit is simply the Aqueon propulstive blades with handles, held in front of me. I’m now on my fourth generation forward unit, based on the style of a sea lion’s front flippers.


Just so you’ll know, I have proven this Sea Turtle-Dolphin technique for underwater swimming in the Clackamas River in very high current situations. On one dive, I used the techique to swim in the current while tracking and videoing the spawning habits of lampreys in the Clackamas River.

Let me know what you think. This short video is the result of over 4 decades of experimentation for the forward unit. Also, are you on LinkedIn? I’m thinking about compiling my decades of experimentation in underwater swimming techniques for a paper I’ll self-publish in LinkedIn.

SeaRat

Looks like fun. I also do the dolphin kick with arms forward when I want to move fast and I've got enough clearance from the bottom for the conditions.