About

 

Proabot Flotilla is a collection of autonomous, solar/wind powered marine exploration and experimentation vessels, linked to internet via satellite. A flotilla of craft will conduct research surveys collecting oceanographic data. The flotilla will permit, for instance, multiple parallel paths of say 10 craft a mile apart, over extended distances, providing collection of data (water chemistry, currents, temperature etc) in a way that is impossible or prohibitively expensive for manned craft. Proabot Flotilla group will seek cooperation and collaboration with the UCI Oceans initiative, UCI Sustainability initiative, the Beall Center for Art and Technology, the UCI Newkirk Center for Science and Society, The Back Bay Science Center, the Newport Aquatic Center, and local Citizen Science initiatives. Related projects include Saildrone, Protei/Scoutbots and Seaglider.

Proabot Flotilla research program leverages existing work by the MDP Orthogonal group on a radio controlled 8ft sailcraft of experimental design. Development of the project will occur in the following stages:

  1. Radio control of sails and rudders with on-board real-time sensor feedback via on-board microcontroller and custom control unit. 100 m range, sea testing on Newport harbor/ backbay.
  2. Installation and monitoring of basic sensor suite, including water temperature, craft speed, windspeed and direction, position via GPS and digital compass.
  3. Webcam linked to internet (Proabot website) with camera control via web.
  4. Development of on-board semi-autonomous control
  5. Satellite communication of sensor/camera data to web
  6. Migration of mission planning and control to web.
  7. Addition of custom mission specific sensors.

 

Aspects of the Project:

  • Aero and hydro-dynamics
  • Mechanical, electromechancial and electronic design and fabrication
  • Precision machining, welding, metalwork
  • Microcontroller programming, especially with sensor and motor interfaces
  • Radio frequency, satellite and internet communications,
  • Specialized internet/web programming and design
  • Boatbuilding, sailmaking and rigging
  • Development of hybrid materials based structural and environmental solutions