DIY RC Boat
A wifi phone application controlled rc boat
June 12: Brainstorming and Finding Parts
- This is my second project and I decided to make it something more useful than a rocket
- Got inspiration becuase just opened my pool and started maintence and it is super dirty
- Idea:
- 2 servos propel it with solar panels to power it so it can run whenever it is sunny
- Started off by finding parts which for the motors wasn't too dificult
- Spent around 30 minutes on that as my idea of what I was going to do kept changing
- Then worked on finding solar panels
- Issue is that to get 5v 3w solar panel is very difficult
Also very expensive and they don't really sell pre-soldered ones
Going to end up using 2 of these to power my servos and basically the enitre thing; https://www.amazon.com/Sunnytech-1-25w-Module-Polysilicon-Charger/dp/B008J9BYY0?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=A38GXV238JJXE&utm_source=chatgpt.com&th=1
Total time spent: 2.5h
June 13: Finishing up finding parts and creating models
- Started off by finding some pvc pipe to use
- Did a bit of reaserch and then decided to use pvc pipes with caps
- And then have pool noddle on them for floatation
- After this found netting
- Simple pool handheld skimmer net which will use for the robot
- In total spend around 30min on this
- Then went on to creating a tinkercad model with the correct dimensions for the robot
- Didn't add all the wiring but added basically everyhting else
- Main model I also created was the solar panel mount which will house all the wires and the switches
Currently deciding on whether to put a plastic waterproof box or something like this to protect the wires and the swtich
Probably will which will add about $8-10 to cost
Current cost in $40
Because solar panels are expensive and don't trsut aliexpress ones
Read on reddit and other forums that they tend to be scams
Just found a box to use (This is a edit to my prior entry)
It should be about $4 and will help keep everything waterproof and sealed away
Total time spent: 2h
# July 3rd: Changing Idea and Working - Coming back to this after a while and I have decided to change my project - Now I will make a rc boat with 2 motors that is wifi controlled - No solar this time though - Or at least for now... - Spent a bunch of time finding parts and going through ideas and finally setlled on this - Going to use a ESP32 - Motor Driver Module - 2 underwater motors from aliexpres: https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806529604559.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.67c038daRKYmRW&mp=1&pdp_npi=5%40dis%21USD%21USD%2047.93%21USD%2019.17%21%21USD%2019.17%21%21%21%402101c5ac17515732165061521ef870%2112000038078834790%21ct%21US%216376028355%21%211%210&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa - 7.4v battery for motors - And more to come
Total time spent: 2h
# July 4th: 3d Models
- Spent the entire time today working on creating the 3d models
- Created a speed boat with motor mounts and a cover
- Roughly 7in in length
- Added a large crevice for all the electronics and mounting place for both motors with propellers
- Pretty much done now with hardware related thing now!!!
- Next time will work on the coding portion
- I'll try to work on July 5th, but may not be able to
-
Total time spent: 2.5h
# July 5th: Code - Today worked on coding - Going to have the program create a wifi hotspot which I connect my phone to (ESP32) - Then I open the browser and control it from there - The webpage has 5 different buttons - Forward (both motors forward) - Left (left back, right forward) - Stop (Both motors stop) - Right (left forward, right back) - Reverse (both motors backward) - Spent a lot of time looking at tutorials but figured it out - Got all the libraries installed which is just wifi.h and webserver.h - Also installed the ESP32 Wroom board - So all good now
Total time spent: 2h
# July 6th: README and Final Touches
- Worked on README and BOM
- Got everything uploaded and spent time going through all the submission criteria to make sure everything is good
- I am going to submit this as a basic 4 point project as I it is not very complex
- Also fully calculated cost and upload the BOM as a csv to clear up any issues
Total time spent: 0.75h