Project Hydra-Drive - A High-Performance Underwater Jetpack

My name is Maximilian, I am a 15-year-old student from Germany with a deep passion for engineering, hydrodynamics, and high-performance electric vehicles. This passion led me to start Project Manta Drive.

The Vision: A No-Compromise Underwater Jetpack

The goal is to create a hands-free, backpack-style underwater propulsion device that rivals commercial products in speed and thrust, but is built on innovative DIY principles. The entire system is designed from the ground up in Autodesk Fusion 360, focusing on a modular, robust, and serviceable architecture that can withstand harsh underwater environments.

How it Works: The Technology Behind Manta Drive

The jetpack is a fully integrated system built around a central Unibody shell:

Power System: A 12S (50.4V) high-current LiPo battery pack, custom-built and managed by a DALY Smart BMS, delivers over 6kW of electrical power.

Propulsion: Two high-performance 6384 brushless motors are housed in custom-designed propulsion pods. These "wet-motors" are specially modified for underwater use with ceramic bearings and epoxy-sealed windings.

Hydrodynamics: Each pod features a hydrodynamically optimized impeller, a flow-straightening stator, and a convergent nozzle to generate maximum thrust and efficiency.

Control System: All functions are managed by a custom-built, waterproof handheld controller. It runs on an ESP32 and features a live, color HUD on a round LCD screen, providing real-time data on thrust and system status.

Current Status: Ready for Prototyping

The project has now reached a critical stage.

• All main electronic components have been sourced and successfully bench-tested.
• The CAD design for the complex thruster pods and the ergonomic handheld controller is complete.
• The project is now ready to move from the digital drawing board to physical prototyping