What it does
The USV modular kit teaches students robotics concepts w/ hands-on experience. The components are designed to be intuitive and beginner-friendly, striking the perfect balance between ease of use and just enough challenge to keep students engaged and motivated.
Your inspiration
Upon conducting preliminary research, we discovered that USV kits are significantly less common in the market compared to mobile robot kits, which are widely available and commonly used in educational settings. There is no shortage of genius minds, but most have sparks that await the right fuel to burn bright. We took advantage of the lingering interests of students and hope to expose them to robotics. We realized that, beyond their practical applications, USVs could serve as engaging tools for hands-on learning, particularly for younger students who are still discovering their interests in science and technology.
How it works
We're designing an educational USV kit that leverages a Pixhawk Autopilot and a Raspberry Pi 4 for navigation, stability, and control. The Pixhawk manages sensor feedback and motor control, building on existing ArduPilot navigation systems. The Raspberry Pi 4 acts as a companion computer, handling complex calculations and enabling advanced features like image processing. To enhance accessibility and engagement, students can control the USV via a mobile application, which includes a visual programming interface tailored for beginners. This interface allows users to design simple command sequences through drag-and-drop logic blocks, making it easier to understand robotic behavior without requiring prior coding experience. Overall, the modular design promotes experimentation, customization, and deeper exploration of real-world robotics principles in aquatic environments.
Design process
We're designing an educational USV kit by adapting existing UGV structures and integrating a Pixhawk and Raspberry Pi for its core functionalities. Our development process involved thoroughly researching components and then using CAD tools to design the hull and other parts for 3D printing. A sustainable approach was considered, but the nature of the project in its conceptual stage prompted the group to stick to the conventional way. Considering the USV to be constructed from blocks by students, the assurance for optimal buoyancy and performance through a water test for the intended product is necessary, as leaks would arise if the blocks were not administered and designed properly. Additionally, while marketed as a USV kit, we thought of making it a hybrid for students to appreciate the robot even without a pool of water. This is done by allowing contraptions and adding wheels, essentially becoming a UGV-USV kit. Simultaneously, a user-friendly mobile app will be developed that offers both manual and autonomous control options, alongside a visual coding interface specifically designed for students to enhance their learning experience. Throughout this process, we prioritized safety and modularity to ensure the kit is both safe and easily expandable.
How it is different
While other buildable boats and commercial USV kits exist, our intended design stands out by being purposefully developed as an educational tool that is beginner-friendly, rather than a high-performance or “hobby-grade” product. Our kit is specifically structured to support young learners and students with minimal robotics experience. While basic components such as nuts and bolts may still be used for structural assembly, several parts of the boat will be designed for easy customization. This encourages creativity and problem-solving, as students can modify or add components using readily available materials or 3D-printed parts. What further sets the project apart is its educational modularity; robot boats as learning platforms are still relatively new in STEM education, making this kit both a novel and challenging contribution to the field. Its open-ended design invites experimentation and supports deeper engagement with engineering principles.
Future plans
We will focus on improving the system’s stability and performance in varying aquatic conditions by refining the control algorithms and mechanical design. We also plan to expand the kit’s modularity by adding components such as environmental sensors, enabling more advanced applications like water quality monitoring. We will finalize the educational manual and develop a user-friendly coding interface suited to different skill levels. While cost optimization is considered an optional step, it remains important to enhance the kit’s accessibility and adoption in a wider range of academic institutions, especially those with limited resources.
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