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According to an article in
The Register,
DEKA (best known for the
Segway) is working under a grant from
DARPA to create a new, super-efficient set of swim fins. Using techniques copied from dolphins, they have made some amazing progress. Although they are initially being designed for military use, civilian use is expected to follow shortly (just like many other DARPA projects.)
The project requirements are simple, but difficult: Create a fin that allows 1.5 knot sustained swimming (by elite military teams such as Navy SEALs) with no more effort than is currently needed to go 1 knot. (1 knot is currently accepted as the fastest sustainable swimming speed.) They must also perform at 1 knot with only half the current effort. Reports indicate that the Powerswim fins have blown those marks out of the water (figuratively speaking) by allowing 2 knot swimming without any additional effort. These new fins should allow swimmers to go either twice as far or twice as fast. Since the current fins are only about 10% efficient (90% of the work of swimming is wasted), there is likely still a lot of room for improvement. Even so, I can’t wait to get my legs in a pair and go for a zoom.
(Via The Register)
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