Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings

Control System Powers New Marine Vehicles

By Laura Carrabine | April 7, 2011

Share

Consider the many advantages to operating unmanned ocean vessels (UOVs). They are durable, can navigate long distances and in rough or turbulent seas, and require no personnel. Vehicles designed and built by Payne Kilbourne at Unmanned Ocean Vessels Inc. rely on a combination of wind, photovoltaic, and motion power. Wind is used for propulsion. As the vehicle moves through the water, it turns an on-board propeller. The rotation of the UOV’s propeller generates power that is stored in the batteries and drives the vessel at night or when the wind diminishes.


The SNAP PAC system can operate up to 16 charts concurrently within a single control program.

Kilbourne said his UOVs can travel and operate for as long as two years, map ocean bottoms, track hurricane and storms, and monitor climate through wind speeds, water temperatures, humidity, barometric pressure, and other variables.

He also said that the sensors and instrumentation used to monitor humidity and water temperature use very little power so the solar cells, wind, and batteries are usually more than enough to meet all of the vehicle’s power needs including conveying it wherever it needs to go.

When he designed the 20-ft prototype boat, Kilbourne used Opto 22 SNAP PAC input/output modules and programmable automation controllers. The system can handle the large quantity and variety of inputs and outputs needed for power and navigation, as well as sensing, monitoring, and gathering data. Thus, the SNAP PAC serves as a central controller that uses both serial and Ethernet communication to connect and regulate a multi-vendor team of micro controllers and marine instrumentation, each with its own area of responsibility, including wing (sail) control, steering, and power management.

The UOV has a rigid winged sail that is outfitted with solar cells that must rotate in order to catch the wind. To do this effectively, a serial connection from the controller to a ComNav wind meter accurately measures wind speed and wind direction. The SNAP PAC then uses this data to regulate a Parallax BASIC Stamp microcontroller and stepper motor that adjusts the sail. The PAC also interfaces to an optical sensor to confirm that the sail has moved to the proper position.

Unmanned-Oceans-Vehicle-prototype
Unmanned Ocean’s Vehicles’ prototype rests on the Potomac River. Because the UOV design is scalable (lengths from 12 to 50 ft), new potential applications such as homeland security and oil spill tracking are emerging.

Another microcontroller moves the UOV’s rudder, to ensure that the vehicle maintains proper heading and bearing. Adjustments can be made at any time based on the data input from the onboard Tristar global positioning system (GPS), magnetic compass, or by the UOV operator.

Voltage and current values from the solar cells are measured and a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) device is used to optimizes the sunlight-to-power conversion. Kilbourne said, “We use analog input modules to monitor power generation, power consumption, and battery charge, as well as the performance of the MPPT. This ensures that we achieve peak power voltages and that the proper amount of power is sent to the batteries to optimize solar power production.”

Unmanned Ocean Vehicles Inc.
http://www.uovehicles.com

Opto 22
www.opto22.com

::Design World::


Filed Under: Energy management + harvesting, Green engineering, Motion control • motor controls, Networks • connectivity • fieldbuses, PLCs + PACs

 

Tell Us What You Think!

Related Articles Read More >

Motion & Control Enterprises purchases RSA and Global Controls, fourth acquisition this year
49503-ACS Motion-CMxa
ACS Motion Control releases SPiiPlusCMxa EtherCAT motion controller
SDP-SI-040
SDP/SI launches brushless DC motors and motion control products series
PACMotion-servos
High-performance integrated motion control line from Emerson

DESIGN GUIDE LIBRARY

“motion

Enews Sign Up

Motion Control Classroom

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Global supply needs drive increased manufacturing footprint development
  • How to Increase Rotational Capacity for a Retaining Ring
  • Cordis high resolution electronic proportional pressure controls
  • WAGO’s custom designed interface wiring system making industrial applications easier
  • 10 Reasons to Specify Valve Manifolds
  • Case study: How a 3D-printed tool saved thousands of hours and dollars

Design World Podcasts

May 17, 2022
Another view on additive and the aerospace industry
See More >
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • Advertising
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Engineering White Papers
  • LEAP AWARDS

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings