Autonomous Research Vessel

ECE Senior Design 2008: Group 14


Advisor:

  • Professor Yan Meng

Group Members:

  • Ahmadnizam Isa
  • Dae Lee
  • Cesar Yunda
  • Elias Zakkak


Abstract:

The Autonomous Research Vessel, (ARV), is a highly configurable, intelligent vessel that can autonomously “sweep” the entire surface of a body of water. The goal is to create a platform that many different researchers and security officials can use to collect a large amount of oceanographic data using a variety of sensors easily and affordably. The ARV can be used to patrol bodies of water and help to detect any harmful unknown activities and dangerous objects. To accomplish this, the ARV will sport a powerful microcontroller coupled with a sonar sensor and global positioning system, (GPS), in a small, maneuverable boat powered by twin propellers. The microcontroller will have a number of ports for connecting to and powering the end user’s sensors, and a production ARV would be designed to spend weeks patrolling and searching without human intervention.