AUV Project
Posted: Nov 22nd, 2010, 7:22 pm
Alright chaps,
Well done Steve on the website, some really good information on there.
I have a bit of a project on the go which has to be finished by April. We've set our sights quite high considering the lack of experience we have, but there are 5 of us working on it so hopefully we'll get there.
Quick overview of the project:
Our project is a model AUV - Automated Underwater Vehicle, for which the ultimate goal (in industry) is a vehicle capable of navigating to a predesignated area and performing some task (i.e. actuate a valve on a horizontal christmas tree). The image recognition capabilities on the more advanced models using cutting edge software, and given we have a budget of £500, we're going to be downsizing quite a bit. The emphasis of our project is stability, which we are investigating on two fronts. The first is an efficient hull design, to minimize drag force due to underwater currents. The second is by way of a stability system using a feedback system - which I am working on. Ideally the AUV would navigate a predetermined path and then when it reached it's 'destination' it would try it's best to stay in that position.
We're currently detailing the hull design, I'll get some photos up tomorrow.
Our current set up is looking like this at the moment:
- 6 x 12v DC motors (taken from Rule 500 Bilge Pumps).
- Craft dimensions approx. 650 x 450 x 20mm
- Solid steel skeleton structure with steel/aluminium sheeting.
- PicAxe / Arduino Controller with IMU
- Neutrally buoyant
Quick question for Steve, what sort of mass have your ROV's been? The reason I ask, our craft is likely to displace 40kg worth of water and so we'll need to add a decent amount of weight to it. Seeing as you've often opted for the converted bilge pumps as thrusters, do you reckon they'll provide enough thrust to actuate our AUV? We're planning to have some of the thrusters in ducts, which I'm reconsidering as I think we'll restrict fluid flow too much.
Also - when comparing different bilge motor cartridges (of the Rule variety), was there much difference in physical size between say, the cartridges in the 500 and the 750?
Cheers.
Well done Steve on the website, some really good information on there.
I have a bit of a project on the go which has to be finished by April. We've set our sights quite high considering the lack of experience we have, but there are 5 of us working on it so hopefully we'll get there.
Quick overview of the project:
Our project is a model AUV - Automated Underwater Vehicle, for which the ultimate goal (in industry) is a vehicle capable of navigating to a predesignated area and performing some task (i.e. actuate a valve on a horizontal christmas tree). The image recognition capabilities on the more advanced models using cutting edge software, and given we have a budget of £500, we're going to be downsizing quite a bit. The emphasis of our project is stability, which we are investigating on two fronts. The first is an efficient hull design, to minimize drag force due to underwater currents. The second is by way of a stability system using a feedback system - which I am working on. Ideally the AUV would navigate a predetermined path and then when it reached it's 'destination' it would try it's best to stay in that position.
We're currently detailing the hull design, I'll get some photos up tomorrow.
Our current set up is looking like this at the moment:
- 6 x 12v DC motors (taken from Rule 500 Bilge Pumps).
- Craft dimensions approx. 650 x 450 x 20mm
- Solid steel skeleton structure with steel/aluminium sheeting.
- PicAxe / Arduino Controller with IMU
- Neutrally buoyant
Quick question for Steve, what sort of mass have your ROV's been? The reason I ask, our craft is likely to displace 40kg worth of water and so we'll need to add a decent amount of weight to it. Seeing as you've often opted for the converted bilge pumps as thrusters, do you reckon they'll provide enough thrust to actuate our AUV? We're planning to have some of the thrusters in ducts, which I'm reconsidering as I think we'll restrict fluid flow too much.
Also - when comparing different bilge motor cartridges (of the Rule variety), was there much difference in physical size between say, the cartridges in the 500 and the 750?
Cheers.