radon@eng.ui.ac.id

Electro-Mechanical System: An Innovation inspired by an Underwater Drone.

The topic of this study was Electro-Mechanical Systems. It combined processes and procedures drawn from electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. Fields such as robotics, mechatronics, electro-mechanical design, and electro-mechanical phenomena produce several innovative solutions applied to them. 

This topic was more straightforward since a hull inspection only requires a five-meter depth of shallow water. Previously, before the advent of underwater drone innovation, a sailing vessel inspection was carried out by a professional diver from a surveyor company. It aims at examining the form of low-cost visuals.

Due to the shallow water, a drone can dive into it, navigate a vessel’s hull, and take its vertical and horizontal images. That action is technically more accessible and uncomplicated since a person does not have to dive into deep water. Moreover, he does not need a fully autonomous mobile drone since this operator can control and run that underwater drone. However, the results of those visual images are still in the testing and design perfection processes. 

As to what is planned, there will be a ground station and a cable to transfer the data. 80% of the drone components are produced using a 3D printer. Although still in its initial prototype, this drone is strong enough to dive into 2-meter-deep water. Its mechanical challenges lie in the design and manufacturing, considering the water impermeability, so some parts of the drone are prone to leaking. It is still testing to determine the most suitable seal on the drone. Accordingly, silicon is the best choice.

Moreover, mechanical challenges also lie in the proper control system to provide smooth maneuverability and not be affected by a water wave. Among those in need of design is the design of the thruster. Several issues, such as how many thrusters are required to make the drone go back and forth, up and down; meanwhile, the electrical challenges in this ROV lie in the determination of power supply systems, motors, sensors, and components to take visual images and to communicate with the operator in the ground station. Our research team is currently pursuing an initial prototype. In two or three years, the model will be ready to use.