BuoyBots

Buoyancy Control System

 

Member profile details

Membership level
2018-2019 Team
Project Thumbnail Image
Team Name
BuoyBots
Project Title
Buoyancy Control System
Design Challenge
Current water-based inspection robots become unstable when they vary their buoyancy. Our goal for this project is to create a soft-robotics solution that can control the buoyancy (depth) of the robot while maintaining its stability in oil tanks, not simply water. This buoyancy control system has potential to be used in multiple applications within autonomous underwater vehicles.
Design Summary
We will utilize electrolysis reactions (both forward and reverse) to change volume via chemical transformation between water and hydrogen/oxygen gases. These volume changes are captured in soft-robotics-inspired external bladders made of a latex material. The system can sense and adjust for depth and pitch of the overall robot during underwater missions.
Sponsors
Shell
Department(s)
  • Mechanical Engineering
---
________________________________________
Faculty Advisor 1 - Name
Fathi Ghorbel
Faculty Advisor 1 - Department
  • MECH
Client First Name
Fathi Ghorbel
Client Company/Organization
RYSIS Lab
 

Team Members

Award(s) and Recognition
Willy Revolution Award ($3500)
Winner
 

Member photo albums (2 Albums)

Contact us

Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen
Rice University

6100 Main Street MS 390 | Houston, Texas | 77005

Phone: 713.348.OEDK

Email: oedk@rice.edu

Lead Industry Partners