Smart Winch
Enabling fully autonomous missions with the Echodrone
PROBLEM
Port of Antwerp Bruges wants to become a smart port bringing together economy, climate and people. Smart technologies play a key role in this concept. The Echodrone is an autonomous inspection vessel capable of performing a variety of depth measurements to guarantee safe passage for shipping. It is a self-driving system that can navigate to the desired inspection locations.
To gather accurate depth readings a sound velocity profiler (SVP) needs to be positioned near the seabed. Because the Echodrone is an unmanned vessel an additional system is needed to automatically deploy the sensor to the exact depth target and retrieve it.
SOLUTION
We developed a smart winch system that plays a vital role in making port inspections truly autonomous. Some features:
- Automated measurement cycle execution.
- Fast and accurate positioning of the sound velocity profiler.
- Remote configuration and operation using a dedicated software application.
- Compact and robust design to withstand the challenging conditions at sea.
- Integrated embedded platform allowing easy integration on any platform (only power and communication connector).
- Modular design enabling fast and easy disassembly of components for maintenance purposes.
THE PROCESS
We covered the complete development process from concept design to functional system.
- Concept generation and definition towards customer specifications.
- Component selection to match the load case and conditions at sea.
- Detailed mechanical design of key components such as the encoder wheel.
- Key components are sourced through our supplier network or produced inhouse using techniques such as 3D printing.
- Embedded system design based on our core ART Robotics embedded platform.
- Software development to control the hardware and implement the measurement workflow.
It was a very nice collaboration with the people of ART Robotics, they really listened to our wishes and needs.
This resulted in a fine product that helps us a lot in our daily operations.
EMBEDDED WINCH
Compact and integrated embedded hardware using the ART Robotics core embedded platform
- Based on the ESP32 microcontroller.
- Communication via RS232 with a dedicated software application.
- Power management for reliable operation on variable battery voltages.
- Flexible input and output configuration for different voltages.
Embedded software implemented with the ART Robotics core sensor and motion control drivers
- Motor control for fast and accurate positioning of the load.
- Brake control to prevent unwinding even during power loss.
- Inductive home sensor to detect and recalibrate the start position.
- Encoder for accurate speed and position feedback.
- Current sensor for motor stall detection.
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ART Robotics core embedded platform
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DC Motor
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Brake
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Power
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Communication
MECHANICAL WINCH
- Compact and robust design to withstand the challenging conditions at sea.
- All component and materials are selected to match the load and environment conditions.
- Modularity enabling fast and easy disassembly of components for maintenance purposes.
SOFTWARE APPLICATION
High level software application to remotely configure and operate the winch:
- Plug and play software that can run on any PC (Windows/Linux)
- Automated measurement flow implemented in Python
- Communication with embedded winch using serial protocol
- Graphical User Interface (GUI) to easily configure and execute measurements
