PEP27
is Bigger, Better, & Welcomes You!! Thanks to continued growing support from
the Office of Naval Research the PEP East competition is growing in Portsmouth, VA to new
teams. In addition, the Submarine Industrial Base is sponsoring PEP West, a new competition
In April 2026 at Port Orchard, WA. We also are excited to announce regional Budget Warrior
competitions in Ohio, Alabama, and North Carolina. All teams can sign up with the PEP27 sign-up form, submit
their resumes, and join the PEP Discord.
We are in the midst of locking down these
competition details. We do not expect to have enough time at PEP events to let teams compete
multiple craft, but invite additional craft to demonstrate their successes at the
forthcoming regional events.
PEP sign-ups are due Monday, September 28 at
2359.
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 Ohio Kick-Off: Springfield, OH October 10, 2026
- PEP West: Port Orchard, WA April 2027
- PEP South: Panama City, FL (tentative)
- PEP East: Portsmouth, VA April 13-16, 2027
- PEP Ohio Competition: Springfield, OH April 17, 2027
Available funding for PEP27 teams:
- New PEP East, West Teams: $7,000
- Returning PEP East Teams: $5,000
- Regional Budget Warriors Teams: $1,500
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 competed in a total of six racing divisions. You can
further explore these results at navalengineers.org/PEP26:
- Manned Displacement: 4 teams
- Manned Planing: 12 teams
- Budget Warriors: 3 teams
- Unmanned Autonomous: 17 teams
- Unmanned Over-the-Horizon RC: 2 teams
- Unmanned Open: 18 teams
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 will 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.
The fastest & longest lasting electric craft in the
world!
The PEP27 rules are slightly modified to maximize the engineering experience for teams
(PEP26 rules and rubrics).
The highlights:
- We are highly focused on the safety rules: have to have a very accessible kill swith and
tow point. Need to have
appropriate trailer and apparel for launch and recovery.
- Uncrewed Open Division craft must still carry a 60-pound payload.
- Other uncrewed divisions (autonomy, over-the-horizion, and budget) require a 30-pound
payload.
- Race times may be limited to 45 minutes (teams that finished after 45 minutes have not
been top 5 and we're trying to have as many boats in the water).
- All craft have a maximum voltage of 55V.
A few scoring rules to remember:
- Autonomy division includes opportunity for extra points for greater levels of autonomy.
- Over-The-Horizon division operators will be on shore. A bow camera and other control
information will be needed to drive the course accurately from the shore.
- Budget Warrior builds are capped at $1,500 and must carry 30-pounds of ballast around the
2-mile track.
- Teams will bring their payloads and should be ready to weigh it as the judges require.
- The crewed heats are largely the same: less than 55.5 volts and race for 5
miles.
If you would to talk about PEP27, please email education@navalengineers.org. Sign-up
forms are due September 28, but
you can email us if you would like to talk about joining PEP now or in the future.
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!
 |
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
|
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 |
 |
 |
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 |
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 |
 |
 |
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 |
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 Recordings
You can sign up to attend the Office Hours using this
Google Form. Mike will also post them meeting invitation in the PEP Discord
Questions & Answers about PEP27 Rules
(Updated Aug 4, 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 and the PEP25
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. We also published a second
research book by the end of May to share the technical expertise developed by the teams racing
at PEP25.
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)
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:
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:
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
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!
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:
- Register your boat in your state and you can use it in the state of
Virginia
- 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.
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.