ASME SDC Water Propelled Vehicle Challenge

This is project done by the ASME efest (Student Design Competition) NIT Silchar Team . The project was to design a bot capable of moving forward and turning only by using the potential energy of water . Everything about this project briefly explained below.

Hardware:

1) PVC pipe

2) plywood

3) Acrylic sheets

4)3D printer

5) drilling machine

6) Circular saw machine

7)plastic pipe 6mm diameter

8) plastic gears

9)Slider

10) straight rob 4 pieces

11) 8 pulley and 2 belt of 1m each

12) Glue

13)ball bearings

14) Hacksaw, acrylic sheet cutter, paint

Electronics:

1) mg995 servo 4

2) Arduino uno

3) Jumper wire

4) Duracell battery

Software:

1)Arduino

2) fusion360

It is very important to create a perfect design for the project .As the bot must be propelled by water potential energy only , hence the design should be such that it can utilize the maximum P.E from water to it's Kinetic Energy.

For the solution of the problem statement we came up with an idea . We store the water at the top of the bot so as to gain maximum PE. Then the whole container is attach with a slider. The container slides due to it's PE. This is how we made a translation motion.

Now , we had to convert this translation motion to a rotatory motion . For this we could use:

1) Slider Crank

2) Gears

3)Pulley belt

However , considering the complexity of the design , loss of energy and structural mass , we chose the pulley belt mechanism .

Now we had an over view of the design . We made our design in Fusion 360.

You can download the files from here :

As explained above when the container slides down, the belt attached with it also translate. Now pulleys start rotating .

But this rotation is not enough to make the bot move 8-9 m. Hence we use gear mechanism . The pulley axis is made by iron rods. When pulley rotate the rod also rotate. Now, we added a large gear ( pitch dia 65 mm, teeth 60) such that gear axis is also same as the pulley's axis i.e the iron rod. Now this rob is connected to the wheel shaft of the front wheels through a small gear( 27 mm dia, teeth 24). Hence when the larger gear rotates one turn the small gear rotates approx 2.5 times , hence the front wheel also.

We have the following Parameter

Diameter of the wheel,C = 16cm

No of teeth of the larger Gear, D1=65

No of teeth of the smaller Gear, D2=27

Water falling from a Height from h= 36 cm

Diameter of the small pulley attached with the belt,d= 1.4cm

Now as the container fall, the belt will make a small pulley rotate.

Let N is the no of revolution the small pulley will rotate when the container reaches the endpoint

\ N* 2*

Putting d=1.4cm and h =36 cm

We get N=8

\ The larger gear attached with the pulley will rotate 8 times.

Now, the smaller gear will rotate, N1= 8* gear ratio

                                                                  = 8*D1/D2

                                                                  =8*65/27

                                                                     =19

The wheel connected with the smaller gear through a shaft will rotate 19 times

\ The distance traveled by the Bot =N*2*3.14* C/2

                                                                = 19*2*3.14* 8

                                                                 =954 cm=9.5m approx.

This clearly shows that even without using another source ( In our case Turbine) only this mechanism can drive of Car up to 9.5 meters.

For getting an additional power input, we place 2 small container from water where water will fall through a nozzle and hit the turbines . For increase the torque 2.5:1 gear ration is adjusted . This system will provide an additional power to the rear wheel.

Now we have made our our bot to move forward . But for the bot to rotate left or right we must have a steering mechanism . The steering mechanism will be a double rocker 4 bar mechanism controlled by a servo motor .

The angle of the servo is commanded by a HC-05 bluetooth module . When the servo move the couple bar, the steering happens .

Arduino control code is given below:

Unloading of the water is done by manually . 5 pipes are connected with the bottom of the container . The exit of the pipes are kept above water level . At the time of unloading the pipes are manually lowered and unloading happens .

3D CAD design for the turbines, electronics amazon link

visit :https://hrkproject.wordpress.com