Testing Procedures

Testing Procedure for Final Design:
Place the vehicle in the water at the site
Have the person controlling the vehicle on the shore
Have the person controlling the camera on the shore
Start operating the vehicle
Begin taking the video
Move the vehicle in at least a thirty square foot radius, video taping the entire time
Bring the vehicle back to the shore
Develop the video
Get the video to the client for research on the benthic creatures

Testing Procedure for Individual Design:
Place the vehicle in the testing location
Test all functions and controls to ensure that they work properly
Meet with the team to discuss what worked or did not work 


Survey for Testing:
    Did the vessel float?
    How much water, if any, did the vessel take on?
    Did the vessel move in all intended directions?

Specs & Limitations

Specs:

The vessel must have a see through bottom

The see through bottom of the vehicle should have a wooden frame

The vessel must be able to float

The vessel must stay balanced at all times

The vessel should have no leaks or places where leaks can occur

The vessel must be remote control operated

The vessel must be operated by a member of the team while on shore

The vessel must be able to support the weight of the camera system

Environment for Use: shallow water bay

Condition of Solution: in motion

User/ Consumer: benthic organism researcher

Limitations:

Minimize cost

Minimize materials

The vessel can not be larger than 4 feet by 4 feet

Power Restrictions: motor and battery must be able to handle moving something the size and weight of the vessel plus the camera apparatus

Rationale Report

Criteria	Glass Bottom Canoe	Fully Glass Vehicle	Vehicle with Glass Bowl on Bottom	Glass Flat-Bottom Vehicle
Ease of Use	S	-	S	+
Aesthetic Appeal	+	+	-	+
Manufacturability	-	-	+	+
Low Weight	+	-	+	-
Energy Efficient	-	+	-	+
Safety	-	-	S	S
∑+	2	2	3	4
∑-	3	4	1	1
∑S	1	0	2	1
Net Score	-1	-2	2	3
Rank	3	4	2	1
Continue or Combine?	No	No	Combine	Yes

Alternative solution number one is the glass bottom canoe shaped boat.  The advantages of this boat are that it is easy to design and light weight.  The disadvantages of this design are that it would be extremely difficult to manufacture and it is not very energy efficient.  Since the canoe has a rounded body, the entire body would need to be made of glass.  This would be difficult to manufacture, maneuver, and would also make it heavier to propel through the water.  There are other glass bottom canoes that have been made.  Figures one and two show a glass bottom canoe.

Figure 1- plexiglass bottom canoe

Figure 2- plexiglass bottom boat

 

Alternative solution number two is the completely glass cube vehicle.  This idea is certainly feasible but not as easily done as the rest.  The advantage of this boat would be that it would be completely clear in the water. The fish and marine life would not see it and be scared away, thus giving you a more accurate estimation of what creatures are living there.  It would be a very aesthetically appealing vehicle.  It would have a very modern and technologically advanced look to it.  The disadvantage to this vehicle is that it would be very difficult to manufacture.  It also uses more glass than the other alternative solutions.

Alternative solution number three is the vehicle with the glass bowl on the bottom.  Initially this is the design that we were going to go with for our final solution.  However we realized that the cons outweighed the pros.  While the bowl on the bottom would keep the boat balanced, it causes a bigger hazard.  If the boat hits a rock the bowl could crack and shatter.  Also the bowl would create a glare from the sun in some spots while the camera is rotating.

The final solution is the glass bottom boat with a flat bottom.  This vehicle is easy to use, has an aesthetic appeal, and is easily manufacturable.  It is not as low eight as alternative solutions number three though.  This solution is much less likely to break if it hits the bottom since it is flat.  The boat would be floating in the water so it would not come into contact with shallow rocks. 

After considering the pros and cons of each one of these solutions, the one that my team and I chose was the glass bottom boat with a flat bottom.  This came in first place in the ranking chart.  It has the most advantages in building and using this solution and was the most energy efficient.  It has an aesthetic appeal because it is sleek.    The bottom picture shhows the final solution.

 

Log

4/28/11

Yesterday my partner MM and I went to our testing site to test our vessel.  My boat moved in all intened directions, left right and forwards.  It did not flip over or sink.  It did not take on too much water.  The only spot that it took on water was through the hole that the rudder goes through.  The water that came through from that was absorbed by the sponge that I put along the egde of the inside of the vessel, so the water did not interfere with the see-through glass bottom or the camera apparatus.   The testing questions were 1) Did the vessel move in all intended directions? yes    2) How much, if any water did the vessel take on? the water only took on about 2 tablespoons of water from the hole that the rudder is in.  However, all of the water was absorbed right up by the sponge.   3) Did the vessel float? yes 

4/7/11

I have completed my poster (with the exception of final testing) and my testing and results document and my self evaluation document.  All that is left to do now is waterproof the rudder hole some more and test the final product with my partner, MM's camera apparatus attached, in the bay. 

3/25/11

This week I finished everything on my vessel except for the rudder.  I had taken apart my RC boat's rudder before I took pictures of how it was set up so I did not know how to put it back together.  Yesterday I found some pictures of my exact RC boat so I was able to see how the rudder should be set up and I can put it together today.  I uploaded all of my pictures and a video to the testing label and the construction label of my blog.  

3/22/11

Last night I finished attaching all the motors into my vessel.  I charged the battery and hooked it up to the motors.  The motors and propellers all work.  I also drilled the holes for the piping for the motor cooling component.  I put the tube through the hole and Epoxied around the tubes to make sure it would be waterproof.  All I have to do now is drill the hole and attach the rudder to the back.  

3/18/11 

This week I finished fiberglassing my vessel.  I also tested the boat in water.  The water came up about an inch on the side of the boat.  When I put MM's camera portion in it will be slightly higher.  Yesterday I was about to frill the holes in my vessel for the propellers but I realized that the propellers do not detach from the rods and wires that spin them.  I think what I am going to have to do is drill holes big enough to fit the propellers in and then just Epoxy all around the rods.   

3/14/11

By Friday I should have completed fiber glassing my vessel and putting the plexiglass bottom into my vessel.  I should be able to test the actual vessel and drill the holes into the sides for where the propellers will be.  I also thought of an idea to better water proof my vessel.  I could fiberglass the entire vessel.  Because the vessel is so heavy, in case it does not float I could add some sort of rafters on the sides of the vessel to help it float.   

3/11/11

Yesterday I tested my model.  It balanced perfectly in the water.  I also added the weight of my partner MM's camera apparatus, which was 377.5 grams, or 0.8322 pounds.  Since the model was only made out of cardboard and therefore not waterproof, it took on water very quickly.  I painted the bottom frame of my vessel white today so that when it is in the water the black does not scare away the benthic creatures.  Once I put the plexiglass in with the frame over top of it and paint and seal the frame, than I can test the vessel.  This will be a more accurate test because the model was only made to show how it would be put together, not to actually work in the water.  

Pictures of testing to follow.

3/9/11

I finished painting my vessel with the black paint.  I also spray painted my vessel so that the caulk was covered.  This week I will have to buy some paint stripper so that I can dissolve the Epoxy. 

3/4/11

I was not in class yesterday because I was on the English class trip.  Today I will paint my vessel, as long as there is paint down in the shop that I can use.  This weekend I will continue to try to remove the Apoxy that is attaching the motors to the RC boat.  Then I can start to see where exactly they will be placed in my vessel.  In addition, I will buy the Velcro this weekend and the materials that I need to make the cover for my vessel to keep out the water.

2/28/11

By Friday I will have painted my vessel with the sealer.  I will also have tested the model and found where the water comes to on the vessel.  I will also have begun to take apart my RC boat parts. 

2/25/11

Yesterday I went and bought the wood sealer for my vessel.  This weekend I will paint my model with the sealer so that on Monday I can test the model to see where it sits in the water and if it floats.  I also bought the plexiglass for the bottom.

2/22/11

   As of right now, my vessel is all put together, in terms of the body of my vessel.  I have sanded all of the pieces down so that they all fit into each other perfectly.  All of the pieces of plywood are glued together and I have used wood filler to fill in the gaps.  My whole vessel is dried so I can now start to caulk.

   By Friday I will be finished caulking the seems of my vessel.  I will bring in the radio control vessel tomorrow so that I can finish taking apart the pieces for my vessel.  Then I can determine exactly where in my vessel I need to drill the holes for my propellers and other components.  After I drill the holes I will need to water proof the vessel.  Once the vessel is water proofed and painted, I can put it the plexiglass bottom.  I expect the most difficult part to be figuring out the mechanical portion with the motor and propellers, because I have never worked with anything like this before.           

2/17/11

I finished filling all of the gaps in my vessel with wood filler today.  I also finished gluing all of the pieces together.  Next week I will be able to sand the wood filler down, and caulk the seams of the vessel.  Then I can water proof and paint the vessel.  Then I will be able to put in the plexiglass bottom, and hook up the motor and radio controls.  

http://science.howstuffworks.com/transport/engines-equipment/gear.htm 

2/15/11

DA has been absent for the past few days so I have not been able to saw the last two pieces of my vessel to fit in.  Today I am going to buy the wood filler to fill in some of the holes so that water does not get in.  

2/11/11

This week I began to glue together the pieces of my vessel.  Yesterday I went to search for some industrial plastic hook and loop Velcro.  I could not find it at any store, but I did find it online so I will need to order that this weekend to attach MM's camera device to my vessel.  Today I am going to continue gluing my project together.  When I finish with that I should be able to start attaching the mechanical portion.    

2/8/11

Today I am going to be working on making sure that all of the pieces are angled properly so that I can begin to glue them together.  This is the last marking period for our project so I need to start tying everything together.  By the end of this week I should have my radio control vessel all taken apart so that I can start incorporating it into my vessel.   

2/4/11

This past week I was working on sanding the edges of my vessel so that the pieces would fit in smoothly.  Two of the pieces of my vessel seem to be missing, so I am cutting two new ones today.  Then I will finish angles the edges correctly and put the pieces together.

2/1/11

Yesterday our STEMM report midterms were due.  I finished mine during class and I handed it in.  Now that that is complete, I can focus on my vessel.  I have to glue the pieces together and caulk the seems.  Once that is done I will water proof the vessel and test in it water.  Then I am going to add the motor system. 

1/28/11

Yesterday during the snow day I worked on my systems midterm which is now due on Monday, January 31, 2011.  Today during lunch I am going to weigh the plywood pieces for my vessel so that I can find the buoyancy.  I will then be able to incorporate that into the different part of mathematics into my midterm math and science analysis report.  

1/24/11

I completed  my formal presentation update presentation on Thursday.  I need to update my blog with pictures of my radio control vessel that I am taking the motor and propellers from. 

1/18/11

This weekend I finished my outline for my formal progress update presentation.  I prepared for the presentation and practiced.  Everyone was given an extra day so my presentation is now scheduled for Thursday.  Today and tomorrow I will work on finishing cutting the pieces of plywood for my vessel.  

1/14/11

Today Mr. DA was absent so I could not work on my vessel because we did not have access to power tools.  So instead I completed my formal progress update outline that is due Tuesday.  For my vessel, I have to cut out two more pieces for the side and then glue everything together.  My presentation is Wednesday so this weekend I will be practicing for that.

1/11/11

The following picture shows the add on that my partner MM and I decided on.  There will be a longer edge along the sides of the top so that way we can pull a tarp over top and hook it underneath.    

Vessel add on

1/5/11

Today Mr. DA and I decided that the way the model was to be built was not going to work.  It would most likely leak so we changed it so that there were channels along the edges to slide the pieces into.  This would keep a tighter seal of the boat.  We also decided to angle the edges of the vessel so the wood fits together better.

1/4/11

I am currently working on building my model boat to test the seam and adhesives.  I am almost finished cutting the pieces of wood so then I can glue them together and test them in the water. 

12/21/10

Today our press releases were due.  I have just completed mine and handed it in.  Now tomorrow and Thursday I can continue testing my materials for my vessel. 

12/17/10

These past few days have consisted of me working on my press release.  I have put a hold on testing the materials for my vessel until my press release is completed.  It is due Tuesday, Dec. 21, so that is when I will resume testing. 

12/14/10

Yesterday Mr. DA and I began to cut the plywood to use for testing the seems of my vessel.  I also began working on my press release which is due next week. 

12/10/10

I need to purchase caulk for the sealing of my vessel so that I can test it.  This coming week I will need to waterproof the model and then test it in the water.  There is plywood in the lab so I can use that to test sealing it and test it for leaks.  I will also test it to see how the Velcro works for attaching MM's part to mine.  In order to waterproof what is inside the vessel, I was thinking of attaching Velcro all along the edges of the top of the vessel and having some kind of tarp that could attach over top of it.  I will have to test that next week as well.

12/7/10

Yesterday I went to Micheal's and bought industrial Velcro to test attaching the camera apparatus to the vessel.  I also bout Titebond III wood glue to test the seams of the vessel.  This week I will need to test the seems of the vessel with the wood glue and caulk, and also test the the attachment of MM's piece to mine.  I also got the plans for the boat that I am modeling my vessel off of from M.E. so I can scale down the measurements.  I need to scan the pictures of my new drawing with the new dimensions onto my blog as well.

12/3/10

This weekend I plan on building a model 18" x  8" of my vessel 7" deep so that I can test it in water for how much weight it can hold.  I will do this in a similar way to how I tested the penny barges freshman year.  This will tell me how far into the water the boat will be when we put all of my motor and other equipment along with my partner MM's camera apparatus.

 11/29/10

Tomorrow my economics class is going into New York City so I will not be in class tomorrow.  Today I will need to work on my final solution drawings.  I am going to make them more detailed and annotated.  I am going to keep the vessel 18" long and add pontoons to the sides to keep it balanced.  The motor from the RC boat that I bought will should work because the boat is about 17" long and even though my vessel may be heavier that will work to my advantage because my partner and I want our vessel to go slower than the purchased RC boat is made to go.   

11/23/10

This weekend Mr. Alfonse wanted me to build a model of my vessel with the size that I would be finally creating it as.  He wanted to test it in the bay to see if it would flip.  However, he did not know if the size that I suggested would work or not, so I did not make a new one. Instead we can use my first model to test it and see how it flips, floats, or sinks.  Then, I will have a better idea, rather than make a new model over and over until it works properly.  I was also waiting for my mentor to get back to me with his opinion.  He said he would suggest 3 feet long.  That seems extremely large for a remote control boat and for the motor and other components' sizes that I was planning on using. 

11/19/10

Yesterday I discussed the size of my vessel possibly being too small for the testing site.  With the slightest wave, the vessel will flip.  I have been thinking up solutions, such as increasing the size of the vessel, and adding rafters to the sides of the vessel.  I also am thinking of instead of using the components from an already existing RC boat, buying the pieces separately to get them to fit the size of my vessel if I change the shape.  Also, if the vessel if made from wood, the pieces can not be plastic because they will be lighter than the vessel.  I have already purchased a RC boat from a hobby shop so I will need to call and find out their return policy.  If I am able to return it I will, and I will purchase the motor, battery, rudder, propeller, and all the components I need separately.  

11/16/10

These past few days I have been working on improving my CAD drawings of the vessel.  I've been drawing the isometric CAD view.  I have also been drawing a more detailed and annotated hand drawing of the final vessel solution.  

11/12/10

Yesterday I met with my teachers regarding  my presentation.  I added the power and size restrictions to my blog.  This weekend I need to work on more detailed, annotated drawings of my final design solution.     

11/9/10

Tomorrow is my presentation.  I was prepared to go last week however we ran out of time.  Mr. Alfonse said to make sure my pictures were labeled and captioned and that the presentation was within the restricted time frame.  I practiced over the weekend to cut down some minutes and made sure my blog images were all ready.  I also handed in my mentor contacts today.

10/26/10

This weekend I completed my model.  I also began working on the developmental work.  I am making the orthographic view drawings on AutoCAD. 

10/21/10

This week my teammate and I discussed the size of our vessel.  My mentor explained that the larger the boat, the more battery power and larger motor will be needed.  So, we reduced the size of our vessel from 24" by 20" to a much smaller 12" by 6" and 6" deep.  The design and shape of the vessel is the still the same. 

10/19/10

This weekend I e-mailed my mentor to let him know where I am at with my project and the wiring aspect of it.  This website has schematic diagrams, a list of components, and images, for what I think is a remote control boat.  http://norbique.rchomepage.com/esc/index.htm

Mr. Alfonse and I discussed the radio control portion of the project and decided that I will use a radio circuit from a previously existing radio controlled boat or other vehicle.  

http://www.boat-links.com/linklists/boatlink-16.html%20%20

10/15/10

This week I found another mentor.  He is the father of one of my classmates.  My model of the vehicle is due Oct. 26 so I will need to start that this weekend.  

This website describes the different types of motors that can possibly be used for remote control boat.  http://www.rc-airplane-world.com/nitro-rc-boat-motors.html  

10/12/10

This weekend I researched information about remote control boat wiring diagrams.  I found a few Schematic Circuit Diagrams of remote control boats.  

http://www.solderingpoint.com/schematics/schematics.php/12.html 

10/5/10

Today I uploaded all of the pictures to the blog.  I also found a very useful website for parts for the motor, propeller, and battery. 

http://www.hobbypartz.com/?gclid=CNzBheKbvKQCFZRR2god-RvpzQ 

9/29/10 

Today I met with my instructors and got everything that I needed to work on.  I looked up more information for my background information, created the rational report chart based off of my alternative solutions, and finalized the alternative solutions.

9/24/10
The images for the alternative solutions would not upload onto this page.  I do not know why.  I will try to upload them again but I am not sure if it will work. 


9/18/10

Location Issues: I went out to look at our location this weekend but unfortunately did not find much benthic life.  We may need to change our testing location.

Brainstorming/ Alternative Solutions

    The brainstorming for the glass bottom boat is very basic.  It is just the very first ideas for the boat.  Most of them are designs for row boats, because initially we planned on building a row boat.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming for an alternative solution

     There are three alternative solutions for the glass bottomed remote control vehicle.  They are a canoe shaped glass bottom boat, a fully glass vehicle, and a boat with a glass bowl on the bottom.  These ideas are all viable but are just not the absolute best choice for the final design. 

Alternative Solution #1
     This solution is a canoe shaped boat.  The bottom of the canoe would be entirely plexiglass to capture images from under the boat.  This includes the sides of the boat being plexiglass as well.  The boat would be one solid structure.  The bottom and sides would not need to be connected because it would be one piece.  There would be a wooden frame around the top of the canoe to keep the edges from braking.  There would be a motor on the back end of the boat.  It would be remote control powered from the shore.  The canoe would be small so that it can be remote control operated without using an excessive amount of energy.  It would be 2½ feet long, 1 foot wide, and ½ foot deep (as shown in figures 1A and 1B).  There would be a bench like wooden piece in the center of the canoe to aid in the stability of the boat (as shown in figure 1A). 

Figure 1A

Figure 1B

           
Alternative Solution #2
     The fully plexiglass vehicle is not as feasible as the other two, but it still could work.  In this idea the entire boat would be made from clear plexiglass.  It would be a 1 foot by 1 foot cube (as shown in figure 2A and 2B).  This glass bottom vehicle would be remote control operated from shore.  It would be closed in so that the camera does not get wet.  There would be a hole in the back of the cube for the motor to be placed (as shown in figure 2C). 

Figure 2- Alternative solution- glass cube

Alternative Solution #3
     The last alternative solution is the wooden boat with a glass bowl at the bottom.  This was originally the design that we were going to use for our final solution.  However, we concluded that with a rounded bowl at the bottom there would be a lot of glare from the sun while taking the videos.  This vehicle would also be remote control powered and operated from shore.  The sides and bottom frame would be made from wood and the clear glass bowl would be in the bottom center.  It would be 24 inches long by 20 inches wide and 6 inches deep.  This can be seen in figure 3A. 

Figure 3A

     The camera portion for all of these alternative solutions will be handled by my partner.  I will be in charge of the remote control portion of all of these solutions.  They would all be battery powered.  They would each use the wiring systems from an already existing remote control toy boat.    

Background Information/ Summer Research

            The problem that my team and I are designing a solution for is the difficult task of taking pictures underwater from inside a boat.  If you are in a boat you can not see through the bottom of it to take a picture of the life underneath you.  Another method currently used to take pictures underwater is scuba diving.  The scuba divers manually take photographs of the marine life around them.  However, in the winter months it is not suitable weather for scuba diving.  Therefore, our project is to build a glass bottom remote control vessel.

            The people who will be involved in this project are my teammate and I, our mentors, and the client.  My teammate MM and I will be designing and constructing the vessel.  Our mentors will be advising us along the way.  When the vessel is completed, our client will be using it to research and study benthic creatures in our selected location. 

All radio remote control vehicles have four main components.  These four parts are the transmitter, the receiver, the motor or motors, and the power source.  The transmitter is the device that you hold and operate by sending radio waves to the vehicle (or receiver) to control it.  The receiver is the vehicle that is being controlled.  It has an antenna and circuit board that receives signals from the transmitter and activates motors inside the vehicle.  The motor turns the wheels, steers the vehicle, and operates propellers.  The power source is the source that supplies the power for the vehicle.  It is usually a battery pack.  There are remote control cars, boats, trains, and remote control planes.  All of these work the same way in which this remote control glass bottom boat will work. 
A remote controlled vehicle is operated from a distance.  They can be operated using a wire connected to both the vehicle and the controller, or many other methods as well.  A radio controlled vehicle is an unattached remote controlled vehicle.    

Schematic diagram for a remote control boat

Second Schematic diagram for remote control boat

 

            This remote control video taking glass bottom vessel needs to be created because it is essential to videoing the bottom of the marine environment.  It will make the job of researching marine life much easier.  If the spots are detected where the benthic creatures are then people can steer clear of these specific spots as to not disturb the life.

            Other things that use the same components our vehicle will be using is things such as remote control boats, cars, and airplanes.  There are also many other glass bottom boats already in creation.  Figure one shows the Parite Boat.  Figure two shows a simpler glass bottom boat.  

Figure 1- Parite Boat- largest glass bottom spheroid in the world

Figure 2- inside of a glass bottom boat

 























Articles and Resources Used:

wiring diagrams: http://carwiringdiagrams.net/rc-car-controller-circuit-diagram-design-using-atmel-4414-ic/

Summer Research:
 
http://www.howstuffworks.com/rc-toy.htm

http://www.glen-l.com/submethd.html

http://www.boatbuildercentral.com/

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4674981_remote-control-car-work.html

How to build a remote control boat: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Remote-Control-Toy-Boat 


clear bottom canoe made of polymer: http://www.fitness-gadgets.com/water-sports/transparent-canoe-kayak-lets-you-see-beneath-while-you-paddle/

glass bottom canoe made of bullett proof glass: http://www.davison.com/creators/2009/04/02/glass-bottom-tour/

canoe with glass window on the bottom: http://synergyboatworks.com/custom.aspx 

http://www.paritetboat.com/main.htm

WHAT IS FIBERGLASS? http://www.diseno-art.com/tutorials/fiberglass.html

plexiglass (a light transparent weather resistant thermoplastic)

Design Brief

Group Design Brief
To design and construct a remote controlled model vessel that marine biologists will use to film marine life in bay type situations in a variety of cold and/or severe weather conditions.

Horseshoe Cove, Sandy Hook- during the winter months.  Snowy cold and icy

Individual Design Brief
To design and construct a remote controlled model vessel that can be operated from the shore in cold and/or severe weather conditions.

Example of a remote control boat that can be controlled from shore