Background Information
The project that was assigned was the challenge within the 2010 Panasonic Creative Design Challenge. The challenge is to create a tether operated vehicle capable of traversing dunes, and traveling through water in a controlled manner. The vehicle must also be able to retrieve submerged objects, objects floating, and objects on land. The vehicle must adhere to all specifications and limitations set forth by the challenge, including permitted materials. My specific challenge in this situation is to design and create the hull and the method of steering/propulsion.
This is the course that must be traversed.
This is an example of dunes that may have to be traversed.
The vehicle must remain floating at all times.
The unit must be able to retrieve submerged objects and return them to the base area.
This image is a method of steering used on a car.
The people involved in this situation include the students, JB and CV whose project this is, the mentors involved, and the teachers grading the project. The other people involved include the possible end user of the product (Tether Operated Vehicle). The end user could be a coast guard unit looking to retrieve people or items near the beach, or the user could be the military looking for a vehicle that can both traverse a beach and travel on water.
This is a unit utilized in beach rescue situations that can autonomously propel itself and rescue a swimmer in distress.
This is an vehicle that can travel both on land and through the water.
This is a floating unit capable of retrieving submerged items.
This is a military vehicle that is capable of traversing sand and traveling on water. The military could use a vehicle such as the one we are designing for transport and retrieval.
The coast guard regularly performs rescues that could be replaced by our vehicle.
This is a situation that must be addressed because the situation could be a life or death situation. This device could be used in instances where humans cannot safely retrieve objects or people from the water or land. This unit will have the ability to traverse a dune, able to drive on a beach, along with have the ability to maneuver in the water similar to a small water craft. This situation also forces us to take a detailed look at robotics as our future. Slowly but surely many things we buy and sell are built by robots rather than people. Robots are more efficient and do not complain. Robots are a necessary evil in the modern world.
Robots manufacture everything from small lenses to giant automobiles.
This remotely operated vehicle can be used to view things that are underwater.
This vehicle is operated via a tether, similar to what must be built for this project.
The unit will be a smaller version of a product that can possibly eventually be utilized by the military or by other services such as life guards. The eventual product will be a vehicle that is capable of performing tasks at the controls of a live human being. This specific unit will be controlled via a tether, but a more advanced unit can either be controlled through a wireless controller, or the unit could be autonomous. A more advanced unit could be customized to perform tasks other than retrieving objects.
Other products currently on the market perform tasks similar to the ones that this unit will perform. The armed forces routinely utilize wireless robots to detect and disarm improvised explosive devices. Wireless remotes control robots such as these. These units have arms able to diffuse the bombs that they are meant to find. A product such as the one we are creating will be similar in the fact that they both have maneuverable arms to retrieve objects. There are also devices currently in testing that are capable of retrieving swimmers in distress from ocean water. The difference between the one we are designing and ones such as those, are that the one we are designing has the ability to maneuver on the beach.
Design Brief:
Design and construct a Tether Operated Vehicle (T.O.V.) that will be operated by a single user and will be able to traverse a dune, drive on a beach, and drive in a controlled manner through water any time of day or year.
Specs:
· The vehicle must be able to traverse a dune, grab an object, lift an object, and return through water and over another dune.
· The vehicle must be able to complete all actions without the need for human intervention other than the person in control with the tethered remote.
Limits:
· 5 small electric motors
· 4 sets of LEGO axles and gears
· 6 9V Panasonic alkaline batteries
· 8 AA Panasonic alkaline batteries
· 6 9V clips
· 2 4-cell AA battery holders
· 3 LEGO people
· The vehicle must be made out of only approved materials.
- Adhesive tape
- Binder clips
- Bottle caps
- Cardboard
- Caulk
- CD’s
- Cloth
- Clothespins
- Crayons
- Drink Cans (<24 oz)
- Straws and coffee stirs
- Foam
- Glue
- Magnets (permanent or electro)
- Modeling Clay
- Nails
- Paper
- Paper clips
- Paper or plastic bags
- Pencils
- Pens and markers
- Pipe cleaners
- Plastic drink bottles (<4 liters)
- Plastic mesh
- Plastic forks, spoons, knives
- Popsicle or craft sticks
- Relays (electrical/mechanical)
- Rubber bands
- Safety pins
- Sandpaper
- Screws, nuts, and bolts
- Solder
- Spools and bobbins
- Spray can lids
- Springs
- Staples
- String and thread (non metallic)
- Switches
- Tacks
- Tongue depressors
- Toothpicks
- Velcro
- Washers
- Wire
- Wire coat hangers
- Wire ties
- Wood putty
- Wooden dowels
