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Underwater Dream Machine
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Program Overview
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NOVA follows the journey of Peter Robbins, a man who staked
everything he owned to build his own submarine with the world's
largest acrylic dome.
The program:
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reviews the sub's design, which combines a conventional steel
aft section with a forward transparent acrylic plastic hull.
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explains that the sub is powered by a long-range diesel engine.
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notes that the submarine's budget is $1.5 million, which means
that many of its parts will need to be off-the-shelf components
from ordinary hardware stores and auto suppliers.
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presents Robbins' idea to turn the vehicle (named Alicia after
his daughter) into a profit-making enterprise by taking tourists
and researchers to shipwrecks lying off England's south coast.
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chronicles the construction of the submarine's components,
including its batteries, ballast, dive control mechanisms,
acrylic sphere, air filtering system, and fail-safe mechanism.
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points out the setbacks involved in building the sub's
never-before-made acrylic sphere.
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explains Robbins' fascination with German U-boats and reveals
his efforts to track down a surviving member from a World War II
U-boat involved in the war's last major U-boat action.
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recounts the survivor's account of that English Channel battle
and his escape from the U-boat.
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shows Robbins' submarine undergoing pressure testing at
Britain's largest pressure chamber and presents its first test
dives.
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recounts Robbins' voyage with the U-boat survivor to the wreck
of the supply ship torpedoed by his U-boat.
Taping Rights: Can be used up to one year after the program
is taped off the air.
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