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Movement & Operational Controls

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Desired Outcomes of this Project

We need to build a movement and operational control system that can be used in a swath vessel (what is a swath?) or our SeaPod GT model. This same system can be slightly modified and used in these additional projects Plug-in platforms, Self Connecting Platforms, and Aquatic Service Drone. Here is a 1:20 scale model we built. A full-size model is about 30% complete at our factory. We need a navigation and electronic control system for this vessel.

Why this is important: This is a core technology that will be essential in building a wide variety of water-based vehicles that will be essential for a floating community. This technology can be used for surface-level delivery and transport drones, underwater vehicles, high-speed human transport vehicles, moving platforms, and more.

 

Requirements
  • Control between one to four thrusters (electric motor-driven propellers or RIM drive motors) of up to 2 kilowatts per thruster. We are currently using these trusters.
  • Each thruster should be able to be controlled in forward and reverse movement.
  • Precise control of between one and five control surfaces like rudders and fins using marine grade stepper motors so we have directional control and they could potentially be used for stabilizing movement when stationary in the water.
  • A fuel level indicator for gas or diesel.
  • A battery charge level indicator.
  • Control four trim control tanks: We will have multiple trim tanks which can be filled or emptied with water with pumps. Two tanks will be at the front (one on the left and one on the right hull). Two tanks will be at the back (one on the left and one on the right hul). These tanks do not need to fill or empty water too fast as the trim will not need to be changed often or rapidly on each trip. They will help keep the vessel level when weight is moved around on the passenger platform. We will need pumps to move the water or air from tank to tank.
  • Control four buoyancy control tanks: We will have up to four buoyancy control tanks which will add/remove water/air as needed from the tanks to adjust the height of the vessel depending on whether the vessel is in movement or docked or in other situations that require the height to be adjusted.
  • All pumps will run on 12, 24, or 48VDC (TBD).
  • Movement sensor (9 axis accelerometer)
  • Water level sensor in buoyancy tanks
  • Water level sensor of the vessel relative to the ocean
  • Water/air temperature sensor - Optional
  • Additional sensors - Optional
  • The vessel should be able to connect via API to the Ocean Builders web server when in range of the internet (specific APIs to be determined later) - BONUS

 

    Project Prizes

    Winner(s) for each level will be judged by Ocean Builders and the Sponsor.

    • Level 1: Submit a detailed outline of your proposal. The proposal should detail a realistic plan for the simplest, easiest, and lowest cost method of completing as much of this project as possible and a proposed timeline and cost estimates for various parts of the project. The prize for this level is set to $100 which will be paid by our sponsor in Ghost cryptocurrency to each team entry or single-member applicants. Level 1 winners may be supplied parts to build Level 2.
    • Level 2: Build a basic, working hardware computer controller which is able to control 2 thrusters with variable thrust in the forward and reverse directions. Sample thrusters can be used for this level of development. The prize for this level is set to $1,000 which will be paid by our sponsor in Ghost cryptocurrency to each team entry or single-member applicants. Level 2 winner(s) may be supplied with parts to build Level 3.
    • BONUS: Connect to the Ocean Builders backend server with APIs. The prize for this bonus is $500 paid in Ghost to the winning project.
    • Level 3: Add any two of the required sensors (can't be the same for both) and have their data read by the computer controller. The prize for this level is $500 paid in Ghost to the winning project. Level 3 winner(s) may be supplied parts list to build Level 4.
    • Level 4: Use an accelerometer sensor to control pumps in four trim tanks that allow the computer controller to balance the vessel even with changing weight distribution conditions. The prize for this level is set to $750 paid in Ghost to the winning project. Level 4 winner(s) may be supplied parts list to build Level 5.
    • Level 5: Use a sensor to detect the height of the swath passenger section, allow the user to select a desired height above the water and control pumps that change the height of the vessel by pumping air/water into buoyancy control tanks. The prize for this level is set to $750 paid in Ghost to the winning project. Level 5 winner(s) may be supplied parts list to build Level 6.
    • Level 6: Sychronize the control of the control surfaces and thrusters to steer the vessel. The prize for this level is set to $750 paid in Ghost to the winning project.

     

    Project Management Page

    Coming soon

     

    Participants/Teams:

    Applicants needed

    Project Manager
    Grant Romundt (temporary). The main project manager will be announced soon.
    This project is being developed as an open-source project with the following licensing:
    • Software: 
    • Hardware, Design & other Intellectual Property: 

     

    Related Project(s)

    Dynamic Positioning, Swath Engineering, Plug-in platforms, Self Connecting Platforms, and Aquatic Service Drone, SeaPod GT model, and RIM drive motors

     

    Sponsorship

    Prizes for this project are sponsored by Ghost and they will be held in escrow by Ocean Builders until each prize level has been completed.

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