The Testing Day in Lambertville, NJ has been canceled.

The search for internships and careers start now! We will be hosting industry job talks throughout the fall semester. You can get a jump on the process by sharing your resume with us and our hiring community: Resume Upload

Current PEP27 schedule:

• PEP Sign-ups due: September 28, 2026
• PEP Crosses the Delaware (Testing Day): Lambertville, NJ - CANCELED
• PEP West: Bremerton, WA April 2027
• PEP East: Portsmouth, VA April 13-16, 2027

Come test and chat with the community as we Cross the Delaware on October 24!

Funding provided to PEP27 teams:

1. New PEP East, West Teams: $7,000
2. Returning PEP East Teams: $5,000
3. Regional Budget Warriors Teams: $1,500

PEP sign-ups were due September 28, 2026. We are in the midst of locking down these competition details. But, we are not certain about any of the regional competitions but hope to have updates on testing sessions and grant applications still up. Teams considering joining PEP28 can sign use the PEP27 sign-up form as a guide.

PEP27 Sign-up: Teams can sign-up using the PEP27 Sign-up Google form or by emailing the PEP27 Sign-up PDF to education@navalengineers.org. There's also an extra page for signing up additional teammates. If you have any questions, you can email education@navalengineers.org or sign-up for the Office Hours meetings August 31 (4pm ET) and September 15 (1pm). All sign-up forms are due September 28, 2026 at 2359 ET.

PEP27 Rules

If you would like to discuss PEP 27, email education@navalengineers.org.

We are so excited that PEP26 was a tremendous success!
The new divisions are generating so much excitement as 53 teams took on the PEP challenge to demonstrate their ingenuity and skills. This year's competition is April 14-16 at Portsmouth City Park (VA). On Wednesday, PEP hosted a job fair thanks to the Campus757 & Hampton Roads Workforce Council while racing three divisions and qualifying the remaining cract. On Thursday, we wrapped up the autonomy, over-the-horizon, and unmanned open divisions.

Each craft has the same path to success: build early, test often, improve, improve, improve. We are rushing to PEP26 and continue to seek volunteers, judges, and corporate sponsors that can maximize this event. We expect 350 students onsite, hundreds of local students, and 50+ volunteers onsite to make this the biggest Promoting Electric Propulsion (PEP) Competition yet!

We were especially thankful that Bath Iron Works Careers has sponsored the sound equipment that will ensure we communicate with all teams and spectators throughout the three-day event.

Overview from PEP25 by Flying Fitz Photography

The fastest & longest lasting electric craft in the world!

To meet these challenges, we are excited to share educational opportunities from Ansys, the American Bureau of Shipping, and ASNE. The PEP Discord is still the go-to location for people interested in learning and sharing about electric propulsion. Please join our community today!

In addition, ASNE memberships are free for all students as is attendance at the Fleet Maintenance & Modernization Symposium; Technology, Systems, & Ships; and Combat Systems Symposium.

Why do we Promote Electric Propulsion? Jobs!

Today's Navy is exploring a variety of crewed and uncrewed platforms. It has been exciting to see a US-built autonomous fleet journey from San Diego to Australia (USNI News), and the Naval Research Enterprise (NRE) is rapidly expanding the number of new platforms and systems. For example, the Defense Innovation Unit sought proposals on scalable Small Unmanned Surface Vessels that can carry 1,000 pounds of fuel while operating in contested environments for days (DefenseScope). It's an amazing time when small uncrewed craft are 11 meters, medium USVs are anything less than 200 feet, and large unmanned surface vessels (LUSVs) are growing in size and complexity.
Interested in the Navy's uncrewed future? Read the Congressional Research Service's Navy Large Unmanned Surface and Undersea Vehicles

We are developing the workforce that will continue these exciting developments. Check out these videos that introduced the PEP Competition. Dr. Steven Russell is the Program Officer from the Office of Naval Research who has overseen and guided PEP from the very beginning. CAPT Dale Lumme is ASNE's Executive Director and brings a unique perspective of how PEP fits in the naval engineering workforce.

If you are interested in joining us, please reach out to talk about your plans (education@navalengineers.org), ask any questions, and hear a little more about this year's unique opportunities. Please review the race rules, and quickly identify your basic design that is within your budget. Note that your budget will need to include travel to Virginia Beach, VA for your team and your craft. Then, you will want to identify a system that you can design and test before winter break. It's key to begin fabricating and testing before the spring semester if you want to have time to test and improve your craft in the fall. We are happy to meet with you as often as is useful for you. You are not alone.

If you have any questions, please email us! When you are ready to submit the form, just email it to education@navalengineers.org

Interested in learning about PEP? You can email us directly. You may also want to review the Competition Celebrations to see the range of designs in the manned and unmanned competitions.

 

     Considering options for your PEP27 boat? Check out previous competitions:           2023              2024            2025              2026

 

PEP: Powering the Future Workforce

The Naval Engineering community needs a large, energetic workforce ready to tackle modern problems. PEP empowers students with knowledge and real-world experience. This senior project is consistently one of the most sought-after options in ME departments. This program brings new perspectives and new voices to the naval engineering, and prepares them to be successful upon graduation.

These universities and ASNE's form two legs of a three-legged stool that includes industry. These teams need industry partners to provide mentors, in-kind donations, and a window into professional naval engineering. These student teams are meeting virtually throughout Fall semester providing a unique opportunity for professionals to join the conversation for an hour or two, and help guide the future naval engineering workforce.

PEP includes hundreds of college students in universities across the country. They need our help to complete this education and find their career.

 

PEP27 Competition Information

PEP26 Event Website & Results

(Scroll down for race divisions, Office Hour video, and Q&A.)

PEP27 will have national competition days in Portsmouth, Virginia (April 13-16). We have full support from the city and we're excited to use the boat ramps at the Portsmouth City Park. In addition, we are excited to announce the Submarine Industrial Base has joined to sponsor a new PEP West competition in April 2027. The event will be near the submarine community based out of NUWC Keyport and we will lock down the exact details soon.

Teams should fill out this form (Word) with the best information available now. We know that the budget and even the division may adjust over the next few months, but give us the best information you have. If necessary, there's also an extra page for signing up additional teammates. All sign-up forms are due September 28, 2026.

Here are the six racing divisions for PEP27!

	PEP27 Commits: University of Minnesota-Duluth Uncrewed - Budget Warriors: Want to show off how efficient your team can be? Compete with other craft on a $1,500 budget. This will be the division we race regionally and we welcome nationally. Sign Up Today! Budget Warrior Rules
PEP Commits: San Diego State University (New!), Florida State (New!), University of Delaware, University at Buffalo, Michigan Tech (New!), CSU Long Beach (New!), East Carolina University, Roanoke College (New!), University of Alabama Uncrewed - Open: Similar to PEP26! Teams must carry 60 pounds of ballast through the two-mile course. Use 55.5 volts or less. We will again have the great support craft from Little Creek, so you can follow your boat as close as you choose. Sign Up Today! Uncrewed - Open Rules
	PEP Commits: Howard University, CSU Sacramento (New!), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Cedarville University Uncrewed - Autonomy: Master autonomy! Design an autonomous craft that can race for 2-miles around our course given GPS waypoints. Go through the levels of autonomy to earn the maximum number of points in the documentation for your autonomous craft. Sign Up Today! Autonomy Rules
PEP Commits: University at Buffalo, University of Maryland (New!), Harvard University (New!), Arkansas Tech University Crewed - Displacement: Displacement craft are manned boats that do not get up on plane. Use your 55.5 volts of battery power to navigate through 5 one-mile laps. Only 9 turns and 5 total miles to PEP glory. Sign Up Today! Displacement Rules
	PEP Commits: Cedarville University, Bucknell University (New!), University of Georgia, Electric Yacht at GW, University of New Mexico Crewed - Planing: Man your boat! Race for five miles of glory! The challenge is the same as PEP25: Maximize the efficiency from your 55.5 volts or less. Worry about the straightaways, there are only 9 turns. Race safely and efficiently with a hull that can get on top of the water at your speed. Sign Up Today! Planing Rules
PEP Commits: Central Connecticut State University, Temple University (New!), UVA Autonomous Watercraft Club, John Brown University (New!), Auburn University Uncrewed - Over-The-Horizon: Big challenge! Operate the craft from the shore, and ensure you can control your craft from about 1 mile distance. You will need to send information from the craft back to the operator to navigate our oval course. Sign Up Today! Over-The-Horizon Rules

Office Hours Recording - September 14

Office Hours Recording - August 31

(August 31 Slide Deck)

Questions & Answers about PEP27 Rules

(Updated Aug 31, 2026)

Can a single craft participate in multiple events provided that it has the capability to do so?

No. This year we will be trying to get as many unique boats on the water.

Could a manned craft be configured to participate in the autonomous or over-the-horizon events?

You can certainly demo this locally or at a regional event, but it will not be permitted at a national competition.

Are there any size limitations on crafts for the autonomous and over-the-horizon events?

There are no size limitations, just remember that the ONR judges are the ones that appreciate the payload so bigger boats will match the judges’ expectations.

How much important is speed vs. reliability?

It still is a reliability race. There are 60 points for on-water performance, and the winners tend to be the craft that have tested extensively and can reliably operate over the 2 miles for uncrewed craft and 5 miles for crewed craft.

What is a downflooding point?

The judges want to make sure teams understand the lowest point above the water line where water could enter the craft. They will be measuring the distance from this point to the water line to ensure craft are safe to race. There is a rule, that craft must have reserve buoyancy so that they continue to float even if they are swamped with water. You can see in some of the videos from PEP25 how craft operated differently when they took on some water as they ride lower and move slower.

To meet these challenges, we are excited to share educational opportunities from Ansys, the American Bureau of Shipping, and ASNE. The PEP Discord is still the go-to location for people interested in learning and sharing about electric propulsion.

In addition, ASNE memberships are free for all students as is attendance at the Fleet Maintenance & Modernization Symposium; Technology, Systems, & Ships; and Combat Systems Symposium.

You can also take a look back at previous year's competitions by visiting the PEP24 celebration Page, PEP25 celebration Page, and PEP26 celebration Page. In addition, the Fall 2023 Naval Engineers Journal is publicly available because it depicts publications from each 2023 PEP team (click here to see the student publications). This website is the digital monument documenting everyone's hard work through the 2022-2023 school year. These research summaries also highlight great work from previous years.

PEP East Layout

We'll keep updating this map of Portsmouth City Park as we lock in more details for this year's competition.

PEP West Layout

We'll keep updating this map. Our expectation is to have a reception in Bremerton, Washington right by the ferry landing from Seattle. The racing will occur in the Port Orchard, which is a short drive around Sinclair Inlet or you can take a 12-minute ferry that drops of a quarter mile from the Port Orchard Boat Ramp.

The race course will be a quarter-mile long. This means each lap is a half mile. The uncrewed boats will race 4 laps and the crewed boats will race 10.

Simulation Season!

Use these webinars from Ansys and join their webinar on September 14 for student clubs.

---

PEP Talks: Professional Development Conversations for PEP Participants

Each PEP competitor is entitled to participate in these learning opportunities. These virtual sessions are designed to help you move forward in designing electric-propelled crafts. Can make a live session? Don't worry, each event is recorded and will be linked here afterwards as an on-demand resource.

PEP27 Talks

• Watch the Office Hours recording from September 14, 2026 (deck).
• Oct 3 (Sat, 1400): Designing for Autonomy by Virginia Tech Autoboat Team
• Oct 27 (Tues, 1300): PEP Judge Career Options and Q&A
• TBD Princeton Electric Speedboating: Eagle1 Design & Plans

PEP26 Talks

• Watch the Office Hours recording from September 26, 2025 (deck).
• Career Discussion with Craig Furlano Explaining Tridentis Culture and Career Paths to Josh Sheffield of Hampton Roads Workforce Council. Tridentis careers: tridentis.com/careers
• Designing for Autonomy by James O'Hara and Dr. Mohammad Goli of Noblis. Noblis careers: careers.noblis.org
• Hull Design for Speed by Alexei Sondergeld, Ph.D.
• Fundamentals of Reliable Marine Electrical Systems by Karle Wigginton of Matrix Engineering Consultants
• Other Topics include: Data Visualization, Analytics and AI for Naval Applications and Mission Engineering

• Watch the first Office Hours recording from September 4, 2025 (deck).

PEP25 Talks

• Watch the Office Hours recording from September 12, 2024 (deck).
• Ansys gave their first webinar on October 1 and the recordings are all available at: https://www.navalengineers.org/Education/Promoting-Electric-Propulsion-PEP-for-Small-Craft/AnsysFall2024
• Mark Bebar of the International Hydrofoil Society described hydrofoil technologies and how to participate in their Mandles Prize and win $4,500! (deck): Event Recording

PEP 24 Talks

• Watch the Office Hours recording from September 7, 2023 (deck).
• Video of water conditions and thoughts end of September 2023: Watch on Vimeo
• Introducing the three PEP Divisions: Watch on Vimeo (deck).
• High-level overview of electric propulsion components (battery, controller, motor controller, motor): Watch on Vimeo
• Making an unmanned surface vessel (USV) by Woods Hole Oceanogrphic (fabrication using CNC and layering waterproofing): Watch on YouTube
• The Design and Construction of an Autonomous Surface Vehicle by The Institute of Marine Engineering: Watch on YouTube
• Sign up for the next Office Hours discussion on Wednesday September 27, 3-4pm ET.

PEP 23 Talks

• Learn about Modeling & Simulation at NSWC Carderock during this webinar from September 8.
• Watch the Office Hours recordings from August and September 2022.

2022 PEP Talks

• Stevens Institute's Dr. Raju Datla & astronaut Bill Shepherd presented High-Performance Marine Vehicles to share how the design process can flourish to produce high performing naval craft
• Autonomy Classifications for those interested in naval autonomy Autonomy Functions & Verification

2021 PEP Talks

• Office Hours with PEP Coordinator: Mike Briscoe (August 25, 2-3pm ET, recording and PPT deck)
• Office Hours with PEP Coordinator: Mike Briscoe (August 31, 7-8pm ET, Recording is here; same PPT from 8/23
• ASNE Webinar: Naval Ship Upgrades & Modernization (September 15, recording is here)
• MegaRust Conference, Virginia Beach, VA (September 21-23, feel free to research the event's proceedings)
• Autodesk Conference (October 5-7, free for all, details at Autodesk University)
• Siemens NX Student Day (October 8, free for all, See Siemens event page for recording)

2020 PEP Talks

• Kayaks to Carriers: Part 1 (Dr. Leigh McCue, George Mason University) - Recordings are here
• Kayaks to Carriers: Part 2 (Dr. Leigh McCue, George Mason University) - Recordings are here
• "Electrical Systems for Motor Propulsion" (Dr. John Suarez, Widener University) - Recording is here
• Discussion of GMU Hull & Process (Mr. Joshua Stickel, George Mason University) - Recording and Downloads are here
• "Introduction to Requirements Definition and Materials Selection in Developing New Components for U.S. Navy Applications" (Dr. Maureen Foley, NAVSEA Composite Team Leader) - Recording and details are available here.

PEP27 Competition information

PEP27 will have national competition days in Portsmouth, Virginia (April 13-16). We have full support from the city and we're excited to use the boat ramps at the Portsmouth City Park. In addition, we are excited to announce the Submarine Industrial Base has joined to sponsor a new PEP West competition in April 2027. The event will be near the submarine community based out of NUWC Keyport and we will lock down the exact details soon.

Teams should fill out this form (Word) with the best information available now. We know that the budget and even the division may adjust over the next few months, but give us the best information you have. If necessary, there's also an extra page for signing up additional teammates. All sign-up forms are due September 28, 2026.

PEP27 Rules

Each rule file includes the general rules that must be adhered to throughout the build season and competition days. There are also rubrics for the white paper and video. Use these rubrics to make sure you cover each category in depth that will impress the judges. This season, the judges are especially looking for

Entry is open to any vessel, manned or unmanned, operating with an electric propulsion system. There is no minimum or maximum engine size or power output specified under these race rules. Vessels shall have appropriate fit and finish to appear sea worthy; no “Frankenstein” vessels. All vessels must comply with USCG safety regulations. Gasoline engines, recharging via an onboard generator, sails, and manual propulsion are prohibited during the competition. Competitors will not have a charging station available to them on site. All vessels must be equipped with sufficient battery storage to complete the race. Solar power and/or charging is permitted.

 

Boating License and Registration for Manned Boats

• Ensure your race-day captain has a boating license. Virginia will recognize any other state's boating license and you can also take these online options to get your boat license from Virginia-approved companies.
• Manned boats mostly need registration. Most states allow for an experimental registration; but, as you test your craft more often, it will be better to register it with the state. We can help. This process usually devolves into them just trying to figure out how much to tax and future sale of your boat.

This year, we will award trophies to the top 3 finishers in each field and judges will award special awards for innovations and efforts they deem worth.

 

Internship & Job Opportunities

Promoting Electric Propulsion (PEP) for Small Craft is made possible by generous support from the Office of Naval Research and the Submarine Industrial Base. We're also supported by a community of naval engineers and engineering organizations. Many of these organizations would love to hire you for jobs and internships. We have noticed that the opportunity for virtual internships and work-from-home positions have not ended. Many of these positions are available from your living room!

Students, please consider uploading your resumes so that we can directly provide it to employers during our ongoing conversations with industry. PEP deeply engages with hiring managers, industry leaders, government organizations, and companies about internships, co-op opportunities, and entry-level engineering positions. By sharing your resume, you give us the opportunity to identify oppotunities that match your skills, interests, and experience. Participating in PEP already demonstrates teamwork, technical problem-solving, project management, and hands-on engineering experience—qualities that hiring managers value—so your resume can help us make the right connection when opportunities arise.

Recruiters, we are here to match talent excited to work with you and upskill your talent pipeline. You can use this Employer sign-up form to share your career pages and consider hosting a job talk with the PEP community.

In addition, there is great value in shaking hands, looking eye-to-eye, mentoring lunches, and conversations over coffee. For young professionals, you may find the opportunity to live in a new area and develop new connections is infinitely valuable. In addition, you may want to attend an ASNE symposiium for free to network with these companies and expand your network. You can also meet up with us and our career partners at:

• San Francisco Fleet Week: October 4-12 (info)

Sponsor

Promoting Electric Propulsion (PEP) for Small Craft is made possible by generous support from the Office of Naval Research under grant number N00014-25-1-2366. This year, the race is open to college teams (both clubs and senior design projects). We are building a community around electric propulsion and encourage you to join this engaging efforts.

ASNE is seeking monetary or in-kind industry sponsorships to promote STEM. We are hosting a reception on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, with the PEP community and sponsors. Please reach out with your internships, job opportunities, STEM funding, and PEP sponsorships to support these great students.

If you would like to be a PEP sponsor Fill out this form and email it back to education@navalengineers.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: What regulations/resources should we consider?

A: There are some national regulations to keep in mind and use as a resource to make sure you are abidding by best practices. We are not adding requirements to the competition, but encourage teams to consult the resources we use to help inform professionals in this space. Specifically,

• IEEE's Recommended Practice for Electrical Installations on Shipboard--Electrical Testing (IEEE Std. 45.6™)
• NEC's Standard for Selecting, Installing, and Maintaining Electric Motors and Motor Controllers (ANSI) (NECA 230)

In addition, if you have specific questions about your designs, test results, or simulation data, please send us an email (education@navalengineers.org and we can connect you with some professional engineers familiar with this issue.

 

Q: What should race conditions should we expect?

A: We hope it will be calm, but please be prepared!

You can see the PEP East water conditions in the videos on the PEP26 Celebration page. Winds have gotten up to 15-20 miles per hour during some PEP competitions. Please emphasize safety, reliability, and endurance when designing and building your craft.

 

Q: What types of turns are involved in the race?

A: The race will be counterclockwise requiring 2 left turns each lap.

 

Send us your PEP questions to us at education@navalengineers.org and we will publicize your success!

Modeling Software Options 

 

Ansys

They make free student software available to all. And, we also encourage teams to consider exploring the 15 free courses on fluids, flows, and simulations (click here for course catalog).

 

AutoDesk

Students can freely use all AutoDesk software, including CFA software, for free (list of free AutoDesk software). In addition, their Knowledge Center.

 

Sim-Flow

A strong CFD simulation package available to all. If you want to quickly dive into this program, check out this Propeller example.

There are a series of 3-4 minute videos by SimFlow that work through 20 aspects of the program in succinct snippets.

 

OpenFOAM

This open source program is completely free although there is less documentation readily available for this software package. You can download the program for free (click here for download options). The training on their website is your best option (click here for their training homepage).

 

Cadence

From Cadence: "For Free – Students can use the same robust Cadence Fidelity CFD Software used by our customers to simulate the hydrodynamic behavior of ships or sailing yachts and calculate their resistance, their propulsion efficiency or how they behave in wave conditions. Use the Cadence Fine Marine Solver as a virtual towing tank to replace experimental facilities or numerical sea trials, enabling engineers to design ships directly at full scale, with advanced, built-in automation features for speed and ease of use."

Reach out if you are interested in free “CFD Student Access” to Fidelity Marine licenses and a collection of tutorials for quick adoption.

 

 

Siemens

There is free FEA software, but the CFD software is not freely available. You can investigate their pricing options page. If your school already licensed the software, you may want to watch this marine engine webinar.

 

 

More Questions?Email us at education@navalengineers.org

PEP 2025 Competition Celebration

Click here to access videos at navalengineers.org/PEP25

PEP25 teams competed at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, VA April 15-17, 2025. The crewed boats had their 0.25 mile qualification run on Tuesday, April 15, and the competition heats were on Wednesday and Thursday, April 16-17 (due to high winds).

The uncrewed teams qualified in the wind on Wednesday and raced in slightly less windy conditions on Thursday.

Crewed Heat Competitors	Crewed Heat	Time
Cedarville University	1	0900-1000
Washington College	1	0900-1000
Stevens Institute of Technology	2	1000-1100
Princeton University	2	1000-1100
University of Tennessee-Knoxville	3	1100-1200
Stony Brook University	3	1100-1200
Old Dominion University	4	1300-1400
Wake Forest University	4	1300-1400
University at Buffalo	4	1300-1400
Arkansas Tech	5	1400-1500
Princeton University	5	1400-1500

The uncrewed boats will have their qualification runs on Wednesday, April 16 and competition heats on Thursday, April 17. The uncrewed trophy presentation will happen in the parking lot 1500-1530, so teams can expect to be on the road by 4pm.

Uncrewed Teams	Uncrewed Heat	Time
University of Kentucky	1	0800-0900
Texas A&M	1	0800-0900
University of Rhode Island	1	0800-0900
Virginia Tech	1	0800-0900
Arkansas Tech	2	0900-1000
University at Buffalo	2	0900-1000
Open Slot	2	0900-1000
University of Virginia	2	0900-1000
Stony Brook University	3	1000-1100
University of Central Florida	3	1000-1100
William & Mary	3	1000-1100
Princeton University	3	1000-1100
The University of Alabama	4	1100-1200
Elon University	4	1100-1200
Northeastern University	4	1100-1200
University of Connecticut	4	1100-1200
University of Kentucky B	4	1100-1200
Auburn University	5	1200-1300
University of Illinois	5	1200-1300
University of Notre Dame	5	1200-1300
Vanderbilt University	5	1200-1300
Virginia Commonwealth University	5	1200-1300
College of the Florida Keys	6	1300-1400
University of Delaware	6	1300-1400
Howard University	6	1300-1400
Madison Area Technical College	6	1300-1400
Rutgers University	6	1300-1400
The University of Georgia	7	1400-1500
University of Iowa	7	1400-1500
North Carolina State	7	1400-1500
University of Kentucky C	7	1400-1500

The Industry Reception will be bigger and better than ever! At the Hilton Garden Inn from 5-7pm on Wednesday, April 16, there will be an award ceremony for the crewed competition, industry recruiters, and collaborative spaces to grow PEP together. This will include many industry representatives and if you would like to invite any of your sponsors, we will have the room, food and good cheer to welcome them.

You can use these maps to see where to park. When you arrive onsite, please check in at the ASNE tent to the left of the boat ramps. Note that the schedules below for qualifying times will be updated as teams sign up.

Qualifying Sign-up for Crewed Craft (4/15)

Tues, April 15	Qualification Time	Boat 1	Boat 2
0900-0915	1
0915-0930	2
0930-0945	3
0945-1000	4
1000-1015	5
1015-1030	6
1030-1045	7
1045-1100	8
1100-1115	9
1115-1130	10
1130-1145	11
1145-1200	12
1200-1215	13
1215-1230	14
1230-1245	15
1245-1300	16
1300-1315	17
1315-1330	18
1330-1345	19
1345-1400	20
1400-1415	21
1415-1430	22
1430-1445	Second Run Possibility
1445-1500	Second Run Possibility. Qualifications absolutely end at 3pm.

Qualifying Sign-up for Uncrewed Craft (4/16)

Wed, April 16	Qualification Time	Boat 1	Boat 2
0900-0915	1
0915-0930	2
0930-0945	3
0945-1000	4
1000-1015	5
1015-1030	6
1030-1045	7
1045-1100	8
1100-1115	9
1115-1130	10
1130-1145	11
1145-1200	12
1200-1215	13
1215-1230	14
1230-1245	15
1245-1300	16
1300-1315	17
1315-1330	18
1330-1345	19
1345-1400	20
1400-1415	21
1415-1430	22
1430-1445	Second Run Possibility
1445-1500	Second Run Possibility. Qualifications absolutely end at 3pm.

The general logistics are the same as last year. We need to remove everything from the park overnight, and will have limited battery charging options onsite. Teams may find any lodging that works best for them, and ASNE has secured a room block at the Hilton Garden Inn for $159/night. You can secure those rooms at any time at:

• https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/orfbogi-917-ba9bae1c-f9b1-42fd-98d8-ab384095ca97/

If you fly in, please allow yourself extra time. If you decide to ship your boat, contact me (education@navalengineers.org). You can fly to Norfolk and grab an uber:

• https://www.norfolkairport.com/where-we-fly/?nonstop-destinations

The course is in front of the boat ramp. The qualification runs are out and around the first channel buoy. You can do this run at any speed and we encourage you to conserve your battery. Before you board a U.S. Navy vessel, you must sign this waiver form. We will have a station with these waivers at the boat ramp and there will be three waivers in your welcome pack as well.

The ASNE tent will be the place to get information and support. There will also be schedules that are updated at this tent and by the boat ramp. If you need any support, come to the ASNE tent. We will be ready to provide:

• First Aid
• Check-in Packets
• Lunch
• Refill Water
• Scoring Documentation
• Schedule Updates
• Interviews
Operators Meeting (Crewed Boat Drivers: 8:15am, Wed., April 16; Uncrewed Operators: 7:45am, Thur., April 17)

These travel costs should come out of the money you received from ONR to build your craft. If you have any questions, contact me (education@navalengineers.org).

PEP 2024

Check out all the race videos at navalengineers.org/PEP24

A tremendous success! In the words of the U.S. Navy:

Electric Boat Competition Sparks Interest in Naval Science Careers

by Rebecca Ward From: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/469203/electric-boat-competition-sparks-interest-naval-science-careers

Student engineering teams from Princeton, Washington College and the University of Alabama have won first place in their respective events at the “Promoting Electric Propulsion” (PEP) boat races, sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE).

In just six years, this electric boat-building competition has grown from a single university to 34, with more than 200 students who took part in the five-mile races on Broad Bay in Virginia Beach. Dr. Steve Russell, program officer, Sea Warfare and Weapons department, said he launched the PEP competition with a colleague from ASNE, Dr. Leigh McCue, and Tim Cullis, Naval Sea Warfare Center Carderock, after seeing a public race by local hobbyists in the Chesapeake Bay.

“It gave us the idea this would be a good way for the Navy to get engineering students interested in electric propulsion, so we did it.”

Russell said they are reaching hundreds of science and engineering students every year. The PEP racing event not only offers students valuable learning experiences, it provides the Navy and Marines with a workforce for the future.

“The goal is to create a pipeline of graduating engineers who have worked on a suite of problems that are currently issues within the U.S. Navy. They come out of school after having designed and built a boat like this, and learning about high power electronics, propulsion, hull design, cooling and boat stability – the naval architecture parts of it,” Russell said. “So far, we’ve hired many of them into the warfare centers and our industry partners.”

Continue reading at: https://www.dvidshub.net/news/469203/electric-boat-competition-sparks-interest-naval-science-careers

Check out the coverage from WAVY 10!

• https://www.wavy.com/hr-show/reck-on-the-road/reck-on-the-road-electric-boat-competition/

New and existing teams should fill out this PEP24 sign-up form (Word Version) and email it back to education@navalengineers.org before September 30, 2023. Please also review the 2024 rules located here. If you have any questions or feedback, please email education@navalengineers.org.

 

Getting Started a New PEP Team Started

We know what you're thinking, "Wow! This sounds so fun now how do I sign up?" Great question, see the below for what to do next.

Step 1: Read the updated 2023-2024 PEP Rules (tracked changes show modifications from 2022-3).

Step 2: Check out the recruiting resources.

Step 3: Sign up to be a part of PEP 2024.

• If you would like to be a PEP competition team, fill out this form. Please email it back to education@navalengineers.org. To receive your check, your university will also have to submit a W-9 tax form (we can help if this is challenging). Consider whether you plan to compete in the Unmanned Division, Manned-Dispalcement Hull, or Manned-Planing Hull Division
• If you would like to be a PEP industry sponsor fill out this form and email it back to education@navalengineers.org

 

Step 4: Consider the educational opportunities this Fall and start connecting with local businesses that can provide in-kind donations and mantorship.

 

Fall goal: Strong design and production process presented to faculty and mentors. Start fabrication processes.

To help you along your way, please watch the advice from PEP alumnus Mr. Joshua Stickel from George Mason University. These - recording and downloads include a hull design that you may choose to use in order for your team to focus more on the electric propulsion design.

 

Spring goal: Complete the fabrication and testing of each component and the integrated system.

 

Need to spread the word across campus?

You can use our generic PEP flyer or this team-recruitment flyer. You can also use this editable flyer to share your recruitment details.

For questions, please contact: education@navalengineers.org.

 

Because our race courses utilize publicly accessible waterways, we do need to abide by public boating regulations. Unmanned boats are generally unregulated by state and local laws, but manned boats should check in with these two requirements:

1. Register your boat in your state and you can use it in the state of Virginia
2. Ensure your race-day captain has a boating license. Virginia will recognize any other state's boating license and you can also take these online options to get your boat license from Virginia-approved companies.

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Liability and Photo Release All competitors must complete the liability and photo release included on the last page of the downloadable competition rules. For minors, a parent or legal guardian must also sign.

 

Information from PEP 2023

Click here to access the PEP23 Celebration (www.navalengineers.org/PEP23).

ONR’s Promoting Electric Propulsion Competition is a success during ASNE’s Multi-Agency Craft Conference!

Portsmouth, Virginia – The Office of Naval Research has funded university teams building electric powered craft for a five-mile race. Under the watchful eye of Little Creek in-water support, the teams raced the Elizabeth River course and presented their craft to ONR and NSWCCD staff. The Princeton team finished first in the manned division with a five-mile time of 6 minutes and 12 seconds. The University of Rhode Island team took first in the unmanned division with their ten-foot long model barge.

 

The 2023 Course

The competition course began and ended at the Navy-provided buoys to the east of the boat launch at Portsmouth City Park. Each boat attempted to complete 5 laps (approximately 1 mile per lap) with turns defined by these two buoys spaced one-half mile (see image below). This short track course allowed maximum visibility by PEP attendees and safety of those competing. Participants will be able to register soon so that we have an accurate head count to manage the day's events.

 

Teams Invited to the 2023 PEP Competition (* attended)

 

 

As part of the PEP program, up to $7,000 technology mini-grants will be awarded to new participants to encourage further innovation in electric power for small craft. Teams that attend the competition can receive an additional $5,000 in funding in the subsequent year. The Top 3 Winners will be awarded $2,000, $1,000, and $500 in each class. There are also special engineering awards for teams displaying innovative engineering.

Celebrating 2022 Competition 

 

 

 

We were so excited to see these teams compete in Pohick Bay:

• Texas A&M
• Washington College
• Stevens Institute
• Old Dominion University
• University of Pittsburgh
• Johns Hopkins University
• North Carolina A&T
• University of Kentucky
• Michigan Electric Boat
• Virginia Tech
• Princeton University - manned and unmanned

 

PEP Teams that Built but did not compete: University of Georgia, Wake Forest University, University of Washington - Bothell, and Tennessee Tech

 

The Successes at the USCG Yard Baltimore in 2021 

 

 

We were so excited to see these teams compete in Baltimore:

• University of Kentucky
• Stevens Institute
• Michigan e-Jetski
• George Mason University
• Michigan Electric Boat
• Old Dominion University
• Princeton University
• Virginia Tech
• Widener University

Videos from 2018 

Check out the 2018 race highlights reel and interview with ONR Program Manager Steve Russell to learn about the context and sights you will get to experience dockside at PEP!

The winner of the 2018 PEP competition in the Small Business category was Pure Watercraft Inc, with an average lap time of 3' 5". See highlights from their victorious run.

The winner of the 2018 PEP competition in the Individual category was the Electric Umiak, with an average lap time of 44' 4". See the Umiak in action in the video below.