Now that you have the set of tools, let's build some amazing robots. Let's start by exploring robots that can go either in or under water. I won't cover every detail in this chapter, but I will discuss some additional capabilities that you'll need in order to complete these more advanced projects. In this chapter, you'll learn the following:
Let's start by sailing!
Certainly, one of the most impressive ways to navigate the waters is in a sailing vessel. Let's start with an RC sailboat. These are available at many hobby stores, either retail or online. The following is an image of one such platform:
This sailboat is ready to sail via radio control. This means that it has two servos mounted inside: one to control the sail and the other to control the rudder. The following is an image of these two servos that are connected to the sail and rudder:
In order for your sailboat to sail itself, it will need several key capabilities. First, it should be able to control the servos; you'll use the techniques you learned in Chapter 7, Controlling Servos with Arduino, to move the rudder and trim the sails. You might want to add the GPS capability that you discovered in Chapter 11, Using a GPS Device with Arduino. You will want to control the system without a wired connection, so you can use the principles that you learned in...
An ROV offers an entirely different way to use Arduino to explore a new world. This project is a bit different in two ways. First, there is quite a bit of mechanical work to do, and second, it is almost impossible to send wireless signals through water. So, you are going to use a tethered control line to give your robot direction.
There are several possible approaches to building your ROV. Although controlled by a different processor, the mechanical design at openrov.com/page/openrov-2-0 is quite elegant, and you could certainly build the HW yourself and then integrate your Arduino. At openrov.com/page/open-rov-designs-1 is a simpler yet similar design that incorporates Arduino. Another design that is very different from the first one is available at www.instructables.com/id/Underwater-ROV/. Both could certainly use Arduino as the motor control.
My physical design is based more on the latter design that mostly uses plastic piping, as...
In this chapter, you've tackled a sailing robot and a robot that can go underwater. You've learned how to add unusual sensors such as the wind sensor on the sailboat. You've also learned how to control a project via a LAN connection across a significant distance with the ROV project. In the next chapter, you'll move on to projects that can fly.
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