Triton - Underwater Thruster for the Microtransat Challenge

Founded in 2023, Triton e.V. is a student-led engineering initiative based at RWTH Aachen University. Our goal is to design and build a fully autonomous, solar-powered surface vessel capable of crossing the Atlantic Ocean as part of the Microtransat Challenge—one of the most demanding competitions in autonomous maritime engineering.

Our interdisciplinary team consists of students from mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science, working together to develop a system that must operate continuously for several months in a harsh saltwater environment, without maintenance or human intervention.

Project Focus: Underwater Thruster

One of the most critical subsystems of our vessel is the propulsion unit. To meet the demands of continuous operation over several months in a saltwater environment, we developed a custom underwater thruster specifically optimized for efficiency, reliability, and manufacturability.

The thruster features a self-developed magnetic coupling, allowing torque to be transmitted through a fully sealed barrier and eliminating dynamic shaft seals. This design significantly improves long-term watertightness and reduces mechanical wear. The propeller shaft is supported by ceramic ball bearings, which require very tight manufacturing tolerances to ensure smooth operation and long service life. All structural and seawater-exposed components are manufactured from stainless steel 316L to provide corrosion resistance throughout the Atlantic crossing.

Manufacturing this system requires precision-machined components with tight tolerances, particularly for bearing seats, shaft interfaces, and magnetic coupling carriers.

Why PCBWay’s Support Is Essential

As a student team, we face significant challenges in manufacturing complex mechanical components within tight budgets and timelines. PCBWay’s advanced CNC machining capabilities and experience with high-precision metal parts would enable us to produce the thruster components to the required tolerances and surface quality.

PCBWay’s support would have a direct and measurable impact on the reliability of our propulsion system—one of the most mission-critical parts of the vessel—and therefore on the overall success of our Atlantic crossing mission.

You can find out more about us and our project on our website: https://triton.ac