I have thought about this project for some time.\u00a0 I was considering building the boat then figuring out how I was going to control it.\u00a0 I have a good idea what size hull I am going to use for the test bed.\u00a0 Not sure exactly which one though.\u00a0 I\u2019d like to keep cost and initial complexity down by choosing things like only using one motor.<\/p>\n
The boat is going to be a stock out of the box kit.\u00a0 No design problems there.\u00a0 Just assemble or build it like all the others of its type.\u00a0 It just has to be big enough for room to work and make changes.\u00a0 Detailing the vessel is a whole other direction I\u2019d like to include in this blog,\u00a0 when the controls become less of the central focus.<\/p>\n
The more I thought I realized I was going to tackle the problem from the wrong direction.\u00a0 The controls ARE<\/strong> what is going to be the hardest (most complex) part to design.\u00a0 They need to be the first part of the project.\u00a0 If I can\u2019t get them to work on the bench,\u00a0 then I don\u2019t need to put together a boat.<\/p>\n The computer components are very small and light so size,\u00a0 weight and power usage are no problems.\u00a0 But it is like scratch building a model or maybe a ham radio where there is no complete set of plans or all the parts in a box.\u00a0 No kit with parts already selected that are ready to install.\u00a0 That\u2019s why the communication system is the cutting edge here.\u00a0 I chose the Parallax folks for the hardware to keep the parts shopping at the minimum.\u00a0 They do have a lot of the parts in the box for the robot kits,\u00a0 but no boats in sight.<\/p>\n There is nothing sacred with my choice of supplier.\u00a0 It just works for me<\/p>\n The first version control system will be on a prototyping breadboard and crude looking.\u00a0 That\u2019s why it will be built and tested on the bench,\u00a0 using the 1 milliwatt transceivers and prototype plug in boards.\u00a0 It will be easy to make changes.\u00a0 Soldering parts on a production prototype board is not so friendly to changes.<\/p>\n I am trying to temper my enthusiasm for details by trying to have a suitable plan of action that won\u2019t keep the project on the bench forever.\u00a0 I see so much that can be<\/em><\/strong>,\u00a0 that I have to slow down and think what has to be<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 I don\u2019t need to jump in the water with a fully functional space shuttle.\u00a0 Say\u2026 there may be a surplus sale on one of those babies fairly soon…<\/p>\n Here is my thinking.\u00a0 Stage one is a working communication network with rudder control (one servo) and motor control (one motor controller).\u00a0 All inputs from the shore.\u00a0 No more than R\/C can do.\u00a0 To prove bidirectional LON communications something will be monitored like maybe a compass heading or motor temperature displayed on shore.<\/p>\n