| Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) (52 min. 6 sec.) ; 315851974 bytes |
| Summary |
Throughout his life, American Peter Robbins has cultivated a passion for submarines. As an engineer, he is fascinated by the precision of Germany's U-boat technology. As an entrepreneur, he is intrigued by the prospect of underwater tourism.Underwater Dream Machine follows Peter Robbins as he embarks on a ten-year odyssey to create his own million-dollar underwater vessel from scratch and explore the sunken wrecks of German U-boats.Robbins risks everything to create his pet project, the Alicia; a one-of-a-kind; privately built; 18-tonne; two-engine; six-person sub with a panoramic view, which costs $1.5 million to assemble, can dive up to 1,000 feet and can withstand pressure of twice that encountered at maximum depth. The submarine's progress from design to manufacturing is documented - a daunting endeavour without the resources of a big shipyard or backing of the military, and one that requires some truly innovative solutions, since parts must be scavenged or even bought off-the-shelf at business supply stores. The design crew shops for seats at Office World, takes the engine from a truck and modifies it, and repurposes 60 forklift batteries to power the sub underwater. The single most costly components to produce are several specially designed bubble windows, which provide passengers with a 180-degree view of the ocean world and are crucial to the submarine's viability as a tourism venture.On its inaugural mission, the Alicia steams out of England's Plymouth Harbor on an uncertain dive to test whether the sub is operable and to try to find the thirty-nine German U-boats (Hitler's most feared weapons), which litter the seabed of the English Channel. Captivated by the tales of the Germans who fought on these subs, Robbins invites 81-year-old U-Boat veteran, Rudi Wieser, to join him on the Alicia's maiden voyage to find his own sunken U-1195. Underwater Dream Machine is an engineering adventure and an historical journey, as Robbins and his small team use their sheer imagination and motivation to overcome obstacles in order to create the completely unique tourist submarine, the Alicia. (From the US, in English) |
| Notes |
Closed captioning in English |
| Event |
Broadcast 2010-09-06 at 20:30:00 |
| Notes |
Classification: G |
| Subject |
Submarines (Ships) -- Design and construction.
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Submarines (Ships) -- Models.
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Submarines (Ships) -- Safety appliances.
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Submarines (Ships) -- Technological innovations.
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Submersibles.
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Underwater exploration.
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United States.
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| Form |
Streaming video
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| Author |
Robbins, Peter, contributor
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Ross, Neil, cast
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Sawall, Andreas, director
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