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Background:
Background:
The US Military is using small and mid-size unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for various missions. These systems are currently developed and built by private companies and are quite expensive ($50,000-$150,000).
The US Military is using small and mid-size unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for various missions. These systems are currently developed and built by private companies and are quite expensive ($50,000-$150,000).
SPAWAR's mission is to "make the Navy's information dominance vision a reality." This project aims to develop a cheap and capable all terrain reconnaissance vehicle. When this project is completed the navy will have yet another tool which will allow them to fill the gaps in information resulting in better tactical decisions and a lower chance of loss of life.
Objectives:
High Priority:
Develop, test, and document a robust and reliable automated steering system that would be relatively inexpensive to replicate.
Second Priority:
Make the steering system applicable to similarly designed ATVs.
Outstanding Design Solution:
A lightweight system that can be applied to a range of ATVs which will autonomously steer, apply throttle, actuate brakes, have onboard communications, and can hand over control to a rider if necessary.
Steering actuated by an electric motor via chain drive
Throttle actuated via servo
Brake actuated through an electric-hydrailic actuator
All system controlled through R/C with an Arduino
Performance Results:
Capable of reliable remote operation in dirt, mud, and brush
Wheels will go through their complete range of motion in the worse-case scenario (stationary in ice plant) in under 1.5s
Full range of throttle is remotely controlled
Brake actuation range allows for slow deceleration or complete panic stop
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