Choosing Components

Before beginning construction of the robot, I would first need to find efficient and reliable parts. Previously, when I decided to create the Singapore Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Challenge (SAUVC) team at our school, due to my lack of experience, most of our time was spent designing the hull. It was difficult to create a waterproof vessel that would protect the delicate electronics, as even the slightest of moisture inside the enclosure could prove disastrous. We thought it would be most effective to purchase a waterproof container, drilling the required holes for the cables, and re-sealing it. However, using this method resulted in incomplete seals which rendered the container unusable. This process took lots of time and effort that resulted in the failure of the project. As a team, it was incredibly disheartening. This has taught me to never give up, and be more patient—take a step back, do the thorough research and flesh out a proper tested plan before embarking.

For the BlueRay, after conducting exhaustive research, I had a fair understanding of the existing frameworks that are used in AUVs. Using these systems makes assembly a breeze, increasing the overall effectiveness and durability of the enclosure. It allows for the easy control of pressure, ensuring internal conditions are maintained, removing the time required for the from the iterative development of custom components. I chose to order my parts from BlueRobotics. I was able salvage many useful components from the previous AUV such as the thrusters, motor controllers, and microcontrollers.