Remote-Controlled Boat Design and Build for PEP Competition
Problem statement
Imagine a world where boating is safer and more friendly for the environment. According to the US Coast Guard, there were 636 fatalities related to recreational boating accidents in 2022 [1]. Additionally, pollutants from gasoline powered outboard motors have a significant negative impact on the environment, both short term and long term. Chemicals released from outboard motors can harm wildlife and decrease water quality, and the CO2 released from outboard motors is a factor towards climate change [2]. Overall, ships and boats produce around 40 million metric tons of CO2 per year. In terms of just recreational boating, the fuel that most recreational boats use produces around 20 lbs of CO2 per gallon of gasoline. This is, per gallon, much worse than large commercial boat emissions [3]. Autonomous, electrically propelled recreational boats would give the chance for a more environmentally friendly and potentially safer boating world. Autonomous boats would give several opportunities to improve safety, as during times of danger, it could take over and head to shore or call for help. For example, autonomous boats would mostly eliminate the possibility of alcohol related boating accidents. If the boat was autonomously controlled, then the human error associated with inebriation goes away. Also, electric motors would eliminate essentially all the negative environmental impacts that gasoline powered motors create. However, moving to electric and autonomous for recreational purposes is a very difficult task. Electric outboards are not common, and autonomous solutions are few and far between for recreational boats. Avikus seems to be the only company with a widely available product for an autonomous recreational system, claiming they are the worlds’ first autonomous recreational boating solution, and it seems to mostly assist with docking more than anything [4]. We plan to take a recreational boat suited for manned electric propulsion and make it capable of the same types of journeys completely unmanned by remote control. Autonomous operation is a step up from remote controlled operation, but remote controlled operation is a critical step towards autonomization. While we may focus on remote controlled operation for the initial part of this project, autonomization will certainly be a goal later down the line. Guided by Mercury, ASNE, and UW-Madison Mechanical Engineering, we hope to be able to present a completely working unmanned boat at the PEP competition in April. When presented at a competition, the progress that we make could inspire other groups to explore the positive benefits of switching to electric, automated propulsion. Ultimately, our project will contribute to a fast growing industry that will change the world for the better.
Team members
Sam Lowry – leader
Trent Anderson – communicator
Nathan Meyer – accountant
Nicholas Haakenson – admin
Client
Michael Cheadle