Serenity 1.0 - an autonomous LEGO NXT boat

The inital "sea trials" of a fully autonomous LEGO boat, using nothing but stock LEGO (no modification) and controled by the NXT using a compass sensor to keep to a specific heading. Notice that there's no tether, and no remote control was used (or even availible)... had these trials gone wrong, I'd be uploading a video of a $250 mini-shipwreck sinking to the bottom.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• autonomous
• boat
• NXT
• LEGO
• Hitechnic
• compass

[NeXTsikko]

i would never let my nxt go on watter, and realy not like this wthout anyh protectiom

[brdavis5]

@NeXTsikko I understand. Most people wouldn't. It is risky. Then again I've taken the NXT out on boats, up in high altitude balloons, parachuting from 80,000', and a bunch of other stuff. I've yet to break one. It *is* risky... but exciting. And with risk sometimes comes reward (like doing something no one else has done).

[redrocker232]

you should control it with this nifty program called net bluetooth vehicle remote

[brdavis5]

@redrocker232 Actually... I shouldn't ;). I do have a remote control program for this (based on the NXT of course), but the problem is what happens if your remote control fails (due to interference, or more likely distance)? If Serenity depended on remote control, it would be very easy to loose it. So the system only "listens" to the remote control when active, and if it fails to get updates, it becomes autonomous.

It's a robot, not an RC boat... and it needs to be :)

[Mindstorm971]

building instructions needed plz help !!!!!!!!!!!!

[brdavis5]

@Mindstorm971 What directions do you need? Take a look at the video, and maybe my brickshelf pages, and build your own version. Really, this isn't that mechanically complex (although I did take great troubles to make sure alomost all connections were in shear, not tension... but that's just good Technic building style).

[Mindstorm971]

@brdavis5 ohk....kan try !!! waiting 4 exams to get ova !!!

[brdavis5]

@x1337H4X0Rx It's a nice idea - but it wouldn't actually work very well. Even a light string or fishingline will provide an additional pull on the boat that makes it hard to see if the program is working, or just being messed up by the line. I did a bunch of testing in small tubs, and then... well, if you think it works, the only way to truely prove it... is to do it. :)

[x1337H4X0Rx]

During testing you should have attached a string to it so if for some reason the program failed you could reel it back in.

[lolsalad100]

very daring ;) ilike :D