Sailboat in action
project overview
The goal of the project was to apply the knowledge from the ME218 sequence to build a Terman Unmanned Guider (TUG) watercraft and accompanying Precariously Integrated Leader Of TUGS (PILOT) to control it. A major focus of the class was on multi-processor communications, so the TUG and PILOT must interact wirelessly. This is accomplished with XBee radio modules. Representatives from each team formed the Communications Committee (COMCOM), whose job it was to write a communications standard that would be used by all teams. This standard made it possible for each PILOT to control each TUG, which was a requirement of the project. A copy of the communications protocol can be download below.
me218c_communication_protocol.pdf | |
File Size: | 806 kb |
File Type: |
game day
On game day, the class was divided into two competing guilds. The objective: capture more cargo than the enemy guild. The cargo were 5 gallon paint buckets floating in Terman Harbor. A team's PILOT would have to pair with a friendly team's TUG for the match. Each TUG had a limited amount of "fuel," which would have to be refueled by performing some ridiculous action on the PILOT. Fuel usage was based on throttle. A TUG traveling at 100% throttle would run out of fuel in 10 seconds. For more information on our refueling, and other PILOT specs, check out the PILOT section of this report. To learn more about our boat, check out the TUG section.