Integration and BFS Deployment Checklist

This week you need to demonstrate that your AUV is watertight and capable of autonomous operation by measuring field data with it. Because GPS reception in the tank room is poor we’ll accept faked control loops or open loop control during tank room deployments. You are expected to test and (hopefully) launch your AUV at the pHake Lake at the Bernard Field Station during your regular section time. The main goal of these tests is to ensure that your sensors work in the field. The secondary goal is to evaluate your experimental data so you can make changes to ensure that you will be able to meet your experimental goals. Do not forget that seawater and lake water have very different salinities, conductivities, and densities. A neutrally buoyant AUV in pHake Lake will bob like a cork in the ocean.

Checklist

• Have a deployment checklist
  
• Have an experimental plan. Plan should include:
  • Number of deployments planned
    
  • Target times for deployment
    
  • Target locations for deployment
    
  • Expected range of signal
    
  • Planned trajectory for each deployment
    
  • Plans for robot retrieval (hook, boat, programmed return, etc.)
• Demonstrate that the AUV is watertight.
  
• Demonstrate robot is capable of autonomous operation.
  
• Demonstrate measured field data.
  
• Save all data for the final report
  
• Show MATLAB or slides showing analyzed data.
  • Data from multiple runs are overlaid with analytical model.

Reminders

• Next week you can rebuild, retest, and modify design using what you learned from BFS to get more meaningful data at Dana Point.
• Dana Point deployment is on a Saturday.
• You are responsible for having the robot and team-specific supplies in order to board bus.
• You MUST be on the bus BEFORE 6:30 am for a 6:30 am departure.