Propulsion

Design Criteria

The propulsion system of the vessel must meet the following design criteria:

• The propulsion system may be a submerged propeller or an air propeller
• Capable of propelling the vessel at a maximum speed of at least 10 km/h in ideal conditions
• Capable of steering the vessel such that the turning radius is not more than 3 meters
• Capable of running off of a 12 VDC nominal system where the voltage may be [10 V – 15 V]
• The propulsion system must not consume more than 48 W (4 A @ 12 V) at maximum speed
• If using a submerged propeller, the vessel must not be immobilized by grass, weeds, etc.
• If using a submerged propeller, care must be taken to ensure turbulence does not influence sonar readings

If possible, it would be beneficial to increase the boat’s speed to enable it to more quickly cover ground and map areas. For most situations this would result in an increased power consumption, so it is important to couple any speed increases with increased efficiency in terms of drag, electrical efficiency, propeller efficiency, etc.