Autonomous Systems: Data Transfer Buoy

Background

Wirelessly transferring sensitive data creates windows of opportunities in which that data can be stolen.  While at sea this has proven to be a major issue for the Navy and in order to mitigate the potential of data theft a hard link connection must be made to transfer data. To remedy this, a buoy capable of maintaining a location out at sea will serve as a data center that can connect to other unmanned vessels and exchange data between the two.

Goals and Objectives

• Design a buoy able to autonomously maintain set GPS coordinates
• Develop multiple connection points for unmanned vessels to perform hard link data transfer
• Log all steps of the mission and locations of buoy and vessels through a GUI

Structural Key Points

• Based off buoyant force calculations, capable of holding 7kg of weight
• Structure is light (<1kg) making it highly maneuverable allowing the buoy to maintain its set location easier
• Disassembly of platform to allow for modifications and repairs whenever necessary

GUI Key Points

• Map that displays locations of both the buoy and the vessels travelling toward the buoy
• One easy click button to send all necessary files to the buoy from ROC
• LED signals clearly display all steps in the mission and whether or not they have been completed

Team Members

Taylor Calderon <tfcalder@uci.edu>

Chunguang Yang <chunguy1@uci.edu>

Jiayi Wu <jiayiw34@uci.edu>

Christopher Navarro <cnavarr4@uci.edu>

Advisor

Dr. Mahdi Maaref <mmaaref@uci.edu>