Mobile App based Underwater Surveillance Bot
The challenge of extending the autonomy in AUV deployments is one of the most important issues in oceanographic research today. The possibility of maintaining a team of AUV under deployment in a defined area of interest for a long period could provide an additional source of information. All this da
2025-06-28 16:34:09 - Adil Khan
Mobile App based Underwater Surveillance Bot
Project Area of Specialization RoboticsProject SummaryThe challenge of extending the autonomy in AUV deployments is one of the most important issues in oceanographic research today. The possibility of maintaining a team of AUV under deployment in a defined area of interest for a long period could provide an additional source of information. All this data in combination with the measures provided by buoys and sea gliders used for slow motion and long-range operations will be very valuable. A group of low cost AUV's in alternative automatic switching system navigation-charging operation, could allow a kind of continuous surveying operation. This project is an approach to provide contribution to marine robotics. It is the design of a low cost Autonomous Under Water, capable of performing surveillance, and designing a model that can be modified to adapt to the special characteristics of different water bodies. The Utilization of utilization of low-cost elements on the body, motor and electronics, as it is the aim of the project, could reduce the significantly the final construction of the A.U.V. The A.U.V should be able to record the video/picture surveillance of the water body and transfer it wirelessly to an Android App.
Project ObjectivesDesigning an autonomous underwater vehicle (A.U.V) for under water applications which gives required data on a mobile app wirelessly. Eliminating the need of “human presence” in the water because A.U. V operations are simpler and safer to conduct than any type of occupied-submersible or diving operation because operators can stay safe. The aim of this project is to carry an AUV to perform autonomous trajectory using sensors and actuator to complete the surveillance. To summarize, the concept is to develop an underwater vehicle in such a way that it’s efficiency should not be compromised while making it cost effective.
Project Implementation MethodAll electronic elements are governed by the main board Raspberry Pi. Peripheral devices for sensors are a GPS MODULE to take position and a module which integrate accelerometer, gyroscope and compass (APM). Other sensors include, waterproof ultrasonic sensors to avoid obstacles placed on left, right and bottom of the A.U.V for better detection, temperature/pressure sensor to record the temperature and pressure of the body it Is submerged in. There will be a waterproof camera with night vision to take surveillance footage as pictures or videos as long as it is underwater which will be assisted by an under-water luminescence for a clearer vision. A 12V 3S Lipov battery will be serving as the primary source. There will be 6 DC BRUSHLESS waterproof motors (22k rpm) where 2 will be placed at the tail of the AUV to perform as thrusters and the rest 4 will assist rest of the movement.
From the initial point, the AUV takes exact points from GPS on the surface and establishes the course in degrees to arrive to the next point using compass. After that, it is immersed to a determined depth to perform the surveillance. When a certain time is elapsed or distance is covered, the AUV emerges and checks on the surface its position relative to the expected objective and decides whether to return to its origin or continue, making correction in the course. This correction may produce changes in engine speed to overcome the tolerance required to return back or continue. During navigation, the AUV will collected desired measures and store them in a flash memory. Other sensor data are collected via the raspberry bi board and processed to help the AUV with conducting the mission. This process is repeated until the final point of desired route is reached. Obtained data can be wirelessly transferred to the Android app or memory card to be processed. The chassis of the AUV will be made out of PVC and Acrylic material and the circuitry will be encapsulated to keep it water-proof.
Benefits of the Project- The interest of having a low-cost under-water vehicle can complete the fleet for carrying out scientific surveys. The collection of oceanographic data information and accurate environment data has been proven extremely useful for understanding the ocean processes that affect life on earth.
- Eliminating the need of “human-presence” making it easier where limitation of human reach during underwater survey missions such as detecting and mapping submerged wrecks, rocks, and obstructions that can be a hazard to navigation for commercial and recreational vessels.
- Possible unknown traps or other breaches (such as naval mines, rocks etc.) underwater that could interfere with military operations and are potential threat to humans involved.
- Faster collection of data is required by the AUVs as there is no need for an operator to be involved in its control. Making surveys faster, more accurate and less complicated, increasing its data to signal ratio.
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More accurate surveillance as compared to ROVs or humans' divers as programmed with instructions before embarking on any mission. The geographical positions to be followed are predetermined; navigation requirements for following these positions are set; measures to bypass obstacles and also procedures for payload device operation are also programmed into the vehicle. This ensures a smooth and swift operation.
- Stability: The AUV will be designed like a torpedo, with a propulsion system containing of two thrusters and four movement motors. It also has electronic control mechanism such as the gyro, accelerometers and sonar sensors which help it to overcome the hinders during movement. The torpedo shape reduces hydrodynamic drag making the design stable and agile.
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Improved Navigation Algorithm: As all the instructions will be already programmed into the Vehicle before conducting the survey. The area is studied prior of the mission which allows to program and prepare for missions better by loading in predetermined navigation points, sensors calibration according to the geography of the water body to over-obstacles. Use of GPS helps to conduct the plan more accurately. In addition to a better Algorithm for navigation, it will also be pre-programmed with measures to undertake should and Improvement breakdown. There is also no operator intervention unlike in ROVs or diver-based missions so the mission can be carried out faster and more accurately without the risk of human lives.
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Improved and faster Data collection: The data can be collected through Wi-Fi in a given range onto a mobile app making it faster as the AUV does not always have to return to the original point to give-in data, otherwise the data will always be stored in a memory card for backup in case of connection failure.
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Low deployment cost: The project uses commonly available sensors, actuators and building material. It does not need a bulky, and complex support system. It also carries its own energy source, and as such do not need external power. The absence of external control also reduces the operational cost of employing a human operator.
| Item Name | Type | No. of Units | Per Unit Cost (in Rs) | Total (in Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total in (Rs) | 78000 | |||
| DC Waterproof gear motor (12V, 33k rpm) | Equipment | 6 | 1800 | 10800 |
| Chassis (PVC) | Equipment | 1 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Motor Driver BTS7960 | Equipment | 6 | 1100 | 6600 |
| JSN-SR04 Waterproof ultrasonic sensor | Equipment | 4 | 1000 | 4000 |
| APM 2.8 Flight controller | Equipment | 1 | 6000 | 6000 |
| 12V 3S Lipo Battery | Equipment | 1 | 5500 | 5500 |
| Battery charger | Equipment | 1 | 3800 | 3800 |
| GPS NEO M8N | Equipment | 1 | 5000 | 5000 |
| 3 blade Propeller | Equipment | 6 | 1100 | 6600 |
| NodeMCU ESP8266 Amica Lua R2 WiFi | Equipment | 1 | 700 | 700 |
| Pixy Image Sensor CMUcam5 | Equipment | 1 | 15000 | 15000 |
| Tecxus Sharxx LED light waterproof and floatable | Equipment | 1 | 1000 | 1000 |
| 3D printing thrusters | Miscellaneous | 2 | 3000 | 6000 |
| Printed Skin for AUV body | Miscellaneous | 2 | 1000 | 2000 |