AutoYacht
Tasked to design an aquatic, computer-controlled robot, our team, AutoZots (Ricky Fong, Nick Norambuena, Cody Cacatian, and myself), proudly presents: the AutoYacht.
Featured: Autoyacht by the poolside
Goal: Design a robot boat capable of detecting and approaching sources of sound and heat
Method: A buoyant construct automated via Arduino to steer DC motor propellers based on
input signals from 2 sound sensors and an IR thermal camera
Result: Motor output responded to sound and heat sources with high accuracy during preliminary tests but propeller components failed during actual field test in the pool
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Electromechanical Design
The biggest challenges were figuring out how everything fits together in terms of both signal and power, finding the right battery to accommodate all the components' voltage and current requirements, and working out the right finite state machine model for our Arduino microcontroller.
Finite State Machine
Power Schematic
Final AutoYacht Prototype
The AutoZot team took on an avant-garde approach to the mechanical design of the AutoYacht. Namely, we used an experimental method of ad-hoc component re-appropriation.
Top View
Components
Sensors:
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2 SparkFun Sound Detectors
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IR Thermal Camera Sensor
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MPU6050 (orientation and kinematics sensor)
Controllers:
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2 Arduino Unos
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DC Motor Driver Controller
Actuators:
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2 Type 130 DC Motors
Front View
