Building and Testing a Lego-powered Submarine

Making a radio-controlled submarine with Lego and other materials.
At the end I test it in a lake. Enjoy!

The submarine specs:
Length: 22 cm (8.7 in)
Displacement: 1880 grams (66 oz)
Speed: 0.2 knots (10 cm/s)
Operating depth: 3 m (10 ft) - ballast tank will fail after that
Hull: 1.5 liter lemonade pitcher (Orthex)
Forward: Lego m-motor runs two 9-length propellers (2952)
Turn: Lego m-motor runs a geared-up (0.67:1) small 3-blade propeller (6041)
Ballast tank: Lego m-motor runs a Lego linear actuator connected to a 60 ml syringe (Eotia marinade injector). Active range 20 ml
Radio control: 27 MHz controller dissembled from a toy submarine (Zantec Mini RC U Boot). L298 H-bridge to drive motors
Power supply: 9V Lego battery box for the motors, 3.7V battery for the radio controller

[erikhansen]

Seriously, thank you for not putting obnoxious music over this video. The sounds of your work are enough. Great project.

[Ozepyon]

It's a shame the ballast syringe couldn't overcome the pressure difference at the lake bottom. I hope you revisit this project. It was really cool

[Henji]

I love your methodical approach to your projects. There's something super satisfying about it. "Oh the first thing didn't work? How about this? No? Then this?... Yay!"

[scout]

The syringe piston struggling on the deep dive test is a cool demonstration of water pressure

[LoLorelando]

This taught me more about how submarines work than any trip to the museum, while being more enjoyable.

[benjaminsgs]

I love how this works without music or hysterical talking. So relaxing!

[anon]

*Tons of brilliant electronics applications being installed*

Me: Whoa, look at that wax paper on the soldering iron trick!!!

[unprankable]

I like that instead of taking that small plastic submarine and just transferring all the internals to a Lego shell, he actually built a fully functional one out of a jug. He takes pride in his work, and it's cool.

[raccoonboye]

Suggestions for next time:

Make much larger pistons

Put a lego guy inside

[JohnnyShagbot]

Dude the motor's too loud! The other submarines are gonna hear you!

[tjy]

Best 13 minutes and 30 seconds I've ever spend on youtube

[Icterone]

2022: Building and Testing a Lego-powered Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

[nottoddhoward]

Imagine being a cheery little submarine happy to be played with, and then one day this dude comes along, rips you open, and uses your nervous system to build a even bigger submarine

[Kapin]

I like the lack of music. Gives this a sense of genuine interest and authenticity.

[alasdaresineaeris]

Your style is like that Japanese knife sharpening guy as you both demonstrate a lot of enthusiasm towards your hobby and also creativity. It's really inspiring.

[DabBat]

This guy could build a time machine, but he builds with LEGO instead

[terrencewalsh]

"Thinking quickly, BEC assembled a functional submarine using only some legos, some hot glue, and a submarine."

[Vooman]

"Thinking quickly, Dave constructs a submarine using only some legos, a water pitcher, and a submarine!"

[Velmari_]

Him being quiet somehow makes him seem more genius imo.

[scottjohnson]

We must never forget the true hero of this tale. Tiny sub gave every fiber of its being so this lego submarine might possibly set sail. Godspeed tiny sub