UNIVERSITY of ALABAMA

The Department of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering

UNIVERSITY of ALABAMA (HUNSTVILLE) 

DEPARTMENT AEROSPACE & MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Autonomous Boat Specification:

Base Remote Control System: Traxxas Villain Ex Deepv RTR Racer 14.4V with Rudder and Thruster Control. 

On-Board Control Computer: 1.8Ghz Pentium M PC104 Industrial Computer, 40GB HD, 1GB RAM, 1GB Flash Drive, 2 Ethernet ports, 2 Serial ports, On-board Graphics. 

Actuator Controls: Dual-Mode (remote/computer) Controller Board Accepting Servo Command via Serial port or Radio Receiver. 

Navigation Sensor: Attitude, Heading, and Positioning Reference System with Integrated DGPS Communicating with the Control Computer via Ethernet. 

Software: MATLAB/SIMULINK/xPC-Target Fast Control Prototyping System.

LINKS

www.eng.uah.edu/~fahimi/Platform_Boat.html

www.gps4us.com/GPS-independent-navigation-system-for-autonomous-vessels

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geodetic_system

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECEF

www.apl.washington.edu/projects/seaglider/summary
www.seaglider.washington.edu/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRobot_Seaglider
TropicalBoats

Solarnavigator is a battery electric ASV (Autonomous Solar Vessel), a trimaran with an extremely 

efficient active hull that runs on solar power = energy from nature. This hull form has never been

attempted before, nor has the use of wind energy been used in such manner for crew comfort 

(or complete onboard autonomy). A fleet of such vessels could be the basis of an international peacekeeping, and/or emergency rescue force.

Email:    or phone UK:

+ 44 (0) 1323 831727    +44 (0) 7842 607865

Blueplanet Productions, Solar House, BN27 1RF, United Kingdom

Project Objectives

AUTONOMY  |  STEALTH

Galley | Paints | Screens | Diving

Project Estimates | Record Attempt | PR Events

Batteries | Alloys | Timber | Composites | Navigation | Hydraulics

Motors | Electronics | Solar Panels | Propeller | Transmission | Tooling | Life Support

Tank Testing (Model Construction) & Results

The design of the Solar Navigator boat has been licensed for use in

the John Storm series of books by Jameson Hunter

This website is copyright © 1991- 2012 Electrick Publications. All rights reserved. The bird logo and names Solar Navigator and Blueplanet Ecostar are trademarks ™.  The Blueplanet vehicle configuration is registered ®.  All other trademarks hereby acknowledged and please note that this project should not be confused with the Australian: 'World Solar Challenge'™which is a superb road vehicle endurance race from Darwin to Adelaide.  Max Energy Limited is an educational charity working hard to promote world peace.

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