ECE 191: Project 8 Autonomous Model Yacht Race Contest Control Electronics

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ECE 191 Project 8Autonomous Model Yacht Race
ContestControl Electronics

• Kyte Feng, Jeff Johnson,
• Sandeep Kamath, and Livleen Kaur
• Sponsor Charlie Knezevich
• Race Coordinator Douglas Palmer

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Agenda

• Introduction
• Project Strategy
• Block Diagram
• Hardware Design
• Software Design
• Results and Outlook
• Summary

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Introduction

• The Race
• Autonomous Yacht race from San Diego to Tahiti.
• Across 8000 miles of treacherous ocean.
• Approximately 2 6 months of autonomous
  operation.
• Begins Summer 2004.

• The Project
• To design a prototype control unit for sailboat.
• Must be capable of supporting up to 60 sensors
  and actuators
• Must be capable of operating for several months,
  unattended.
• Small in size and weight.

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Project Strategy

• Four project phases
• Part Selection
• Overall System Design
• Interface Module Design
• Software Programming

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Block Diagram
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Hardware Design

• CPLD controls data flow between sensors,
  actuators and laptop
• An address is assigned to each module
• Each module has its own clock generator
• Modules are powered by data signal lines

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CPLD Programming

• Compares software address to module address
• Sensor CPLD enables A/D converter and 422 driver
• Actuator CPLD passes instruction signals to
  actuators
• CPLD divides clock frequency from 1.8432 MHz to
  19.2 KHz
• Capable of In-System Programming

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Software Design

• Laptop runs Linux operating system
• Java Communications API allows communications
  with serial port
• Instructs actuators based upon incoming sensor
  readings
• Serves as a brain for the sailboat
• Data from GPS unit interacts separately with C
  program

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Results and Outlook

• Results
• Effective Computing Platform Realized
• Interface Module Design Complete
• GPS Interface Complete
• Outlook
• Hardware must be modified for different
  applications
• Programming must be changed to fit specific
  applications
• Design ready to be implemented by race
  competitors

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Summary

• Control Electronics System for Autonomous Yacht
• Project separated into four phases
• Interface designed to be extendable and modular
• Software ready to be modified by yacht designer

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All Aboard!