Page 283 - Robots Androids and Animatrons : 12 Incredible Projects You Can Build

13.2 Toy submarine ready for conversion to TROV

When the foils of the robot fish at MIT were adjusted and recon-
figured to generate a Strouhal number in this range, its efficiency
jumped higher than 86 percent. This is a major improvement com-
pared to propellers that generate efficiencies around 40 percent.

Jumping in

262 There are two basic underwater robot projects outlined in this
chapter. One involves modifying a toy submarine, the other building
a robotic fish from scratch.

Submarine
There are a number of companies that make and sell hobby model
submarines. Depending upon the degree of sophistication of the
model, it usually is radio controlled (R/C) and is capable of sub-
merging and surfacing (see Fig. 13.2).
In modifying a toy submarine, forget about R/C and jump to wire
control and using an umbilical cord to the submarine. The umbilical
cord can carry power as well as command and control signals.

These hobby submarines can be modified to create small tele-
presence systems. The primary modification is the addition of a
color video camera. Most of these hobby submarines have open
compartments where electronics gear can be stored (see Fig. 13.3).

Many of the systems used in the telerobotic car built in Chap. 9
can be implemented here. The one difference is the use of wire
control instead of R/C.
Because these are “toy” subs, you will probably not let them loose
in open water. The tiny propulsion motors in these submarines
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Chapter thirteen