Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Beginners start here...! => Topic started by: Jervis on June 13, 2014, 04:36:21 pm
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This is Boffin an ex-tugboat converted into a covert research vessel. She is disguised as a small coaster but her cargo hold contains an array of sophisticated electronic equipment. She is an autonomous boat - she can follow a preset course without any outside intervention such as radio control.
Boffin was converted by cutting up the original superstructure with some panels made from old CD cases. The cargo hold cover is made from bent copper wire with a piece of cotton shirt soaked in epoxy resin draped over it.
Take a look at the videos on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXO4liqLDI8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXO4liqLDI8)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gufK3XOuGqI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gufK3XOuGqI)
(http://u.cubeupload.com/Mayhem1/PAI7IQ.jpg)
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Interesting, will watch this with interest. Recently there was a Model sailing boat using the raspberry pi thing which was supposed to follow a course, after launching I believe it promptly did its own thing.. %%
Hope yours goes well.
Would be interested to see it just do a basic triangle route and straight back to base .. :-))
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Interesting Jervis :-))...... the helo & winged guys have had greater technology available to them for far too long
Just one question, is the a mode that allows for human intervention to override the preset GPS or computer plotted course? .....just in case of an emergency <*< ....
Derek
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Excellent! How do you feed the output from the satnav to the receiver?
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Derek,
Yes.
When the r/c satnav relay box detects a r/c signal on ch1 it operates a relay that switches from computer to r/c operation. So when the r/c tx is turned on Boffin is under radio control when tx is off Boffin is autonomous.
Martin,
By serial cable using NMEA protocol.
Please look at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gufK3XOuGqI
Thanks for your comments.
Jervis.
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This is great. :-))
Please tell us a little about the CPU/program side of things! (If you can spill the covert secrets, of course...)
Andy
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Main CPU is a Picaxe 20M2 costing £2.28.
It downloads position and heading from the GPS every two seconds. A bit of trigonometry gives bearing to waypoint. Comparing heading and bearing gives angle to turn and the rudder is moved accordingly.