Electronic Bouys...

[RCBoatingNewbie]

I have this problem: I don't have a real boat to put out bouys.

SO, I've been thinking. What would it take to make some electronic bouys that could be placed with an RC Boat?

The initial concept comes down to this: A floating, crash resistant object with a winch in it to raise and lower an anchor, and can be pushed out with a Y shaped pair of wires (or other) on the front of a recovery boat. Once in a satisfactory position, to be able to lower the anchor (a non-tangling type, large weight, etc).

I'm thinking the "raise and lower" thing could be handled by a chip, tied to an extra channel in the Rx of a recovery boat. I could relay signals to the bouy with IR (infrared) using the close proximity of the recovery boat.

To add to the idea, I've thought about something like an IR transponder on two bouys, to be able to measure the time of a passing boat with the IR transponders. Topped with bright flashing lights for feedback, etc.

To further add to the idea, I've thought about trying to incorporate a distance measurement device, to determine exact distance between two bouys, and hence, determine actual speed of a passing boat.

The intention is for all this to help me tune up the boat with REAL speed measurements (at least relatively so), and to help me with my depth perception in controlling the boat (handling, cornerning, where am I at???).

Your thoughts?

Thanks,
Paul

[AndyKunz]

Set the buoys out and measure the distance. Maybe a GPS with memory/time so that you know where it is, if you can't get a real boat. Or maybe tie two models together tail-to-tail and sail them out.

Use a camcorder to time the passes. It will be close enough for what you are doing.

Andy Valentine might be able to hook you up with some scale boaters for winches, etc. They do that sort of stuff with them. Some of the gadgets I made for www.rcboats.com might help as well (RS-5, SES-II, etc).

Andy

[toyboy4145]

Paul,
Check this site out under customer boats. There is a tug boat they use just for setting bouys. They put the bouy and weight on a boogie board and tow it out. When it is in the right place, they pull the boogie board(has a long string that you hold when running out)out from under the weight/bouy. the only drawback I see is that you have to run the boat in a manner that when the string is pulled, it comes out quickly and does not pull the boat into the bouy/weight. You have to check it out to understand. Very easy to understand from the pics.
I will leave the other questions to everyone else.

[TomL]

How about a has 'laser seeking' buoy with a rubber tire around it and a prop/rudder? The thing feature that just follows a laser dot around in the water until you turn it off, then drops the anchor.

:lol

[Stano]

http://www.basspro-shops.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=1593&hvarTarget=search

rig up somthing on your tug to knock one of the back like a long servo arm then rig a hook to drag it back in guess you would have to know the depth or it could float around alot these will un wind therselves when you throw them in the water.


By the time you do all of this you could have bought you a small inflatable and a trolling motor or paddle heh

[Steven Vaccaro]

Cant find the vac-u-boats.com web site. Is it spelled right?

[toyboy4145]

Sorry it is vac-u-boat.com