Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost Intelligent Unmanned Surface Vehicle.

Area of Science:

• Marine Robotics
• Autonomous Systems Engineering
• Control Systems

Background:

• High costs and complexity limit access to Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs).
• Need for adaptable, low-power USV platforms for research and competitions.
• Existing USV designs often lack customizability and affordability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the design and construction of an economical USV under EUR 1000.
• To achieve high adaptability, customizability, and minimal power consumption.
• To develop an intelligent controller for autonomous navigation and collision avoidance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized easily accessible components for vessel construction.
• Focused on a design prioritizing minimal power consumption.
• Investigated reinforcement learning strategies for controller development.
• Conducted preliminary simulations for USV navigation under disturbances.

Main Results:

• Successfully designed and constructed a functional, low-cost USV.
• The USV demonstrated autonomous sea navigation and collision avoidance capabilities.
• Preliminary simulations showed potential for a robust intelligent controller for navigation.

Conclusions:

• The proposed low-cost USV design enhances accessibility for robotic competitions and research.
• Reinforcement learning shows promise for developing robust USV navigation controllers.
• The developed USV is adaptable, customizable, and suitable for various marine applications.