HydraShift - RC Boat to Submarine
Background
RC boats are widely commercially available, while RC submarines remain a costly, niche product. Therefore, this project aims to convert a RC boat into a functional submarine. As RC boats are typically designed exclusively for surface operation, this conversion presents various challenges, including lack of structural integrity, waterproofing, and buoyancy control required for full underwater submersion.
Goal and Objectives
The objective of this project is to transform an off-the-shelf 1:18 scale RC boat into a submersible submarine capable of underwater and surface maneuverability, and can dive to a depth of at least five meters before reliably resurfacing. Some goals in this include developing a ballast system to resist hydrostatic pressure and achieve buoyancy, sealing electronics to ensure waterproofing at high depths, and underwater propulsion.
Milestone Timeline
Problem Definition - 10/22/2025
Preliminary Design - 11/5/2025
Initial Prototype - 11/24/2025
Proof-of-Concept - 12/10/2025
Preliminary Testing - 1/20/2026
Refined Prototype - 2/3/2026
Continued Testing - 2/24/2026
Final Product - 3/13/2026
Documentation
Problem Definition Presentation
Team Contact
Julia McWilliams (jlmcwill@uci.edu)
Dailei He (daileih@uci.edu)
Yudong Liang (yudonl7@uci.edu)
Destiny Ornelas (destinjo@uci.edu)
Yiting Xu (yitinx6@uci.edu)
Sponsor: Mohamed Shorbagy (mshorbgy@uci.edu)