Icesub, a project of Cambridge University Engineering Department's Design Club

The aim of the Icesub project is to build a small, remote-controlled submarine that can be dropped through a drilled hole in a pancake ice floe to measure the conditions underneath it.

At present we are working on the first working version of the submarine, which will not necessarily be suitable for the eventual application but will enable us to gain the necessary skills and experience.

The current plan for the submarine is a cylindrical hull with a domed front carrying a video camera. It will be propelled by twin contra-rotating propellers at the rear, and steered by lateral water jets at the front and rear. Vertical motion will be achieved by vertical water-jet thrust on the neutrally buoyant submarine. As well as the camera, other sensors may include temperature, pressure, salinity, sonar for ranging and sampling capabilities. All power and communication will be conducted through an umbilical cable, which will also provide retrieval capability.

Different team members are in charge of different parts of the submarine, including:

If you are a member of Cambridge University and would like to join the team, email icesub@designclub.org.uk.