Course Project: Solar Energy Powered Boat

University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez

Agricultural Sciences College

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

TMAG 4005 – Agricultural Electrification

2nd Semester 2008-09

Team Members

• Felix Rollet

• Gabriel Cabret

• Frankie Silva

• *Rey Rodríguez

Model Picture

Electrical Materials List

• 6V @ 50mA solar cell

• 6V AA Batteries

• switch (on/off)

Mechanics Materials List

• 6V @ 100mA helicopter motor

Propeller Materials List

• A bottle of Crest.

• Foam

• Metallic gray paint

• Black tape

Electric and Control Diagram

Power Requirements for power source and control system.component volts amps power

Motor (helicopter) 6V 100mA 0.15W

Solar cell 6V 50mA 0.3W

2 AA battery 3V

Electrical Safety Considerations

• Need to cover the wires.

• Put a switch to control the circuit.

Mechanical Safety Considerations

• Needs to cover the motor to avoid contact with water.

• Needs to tide the motor to propeller.

Passenger Transport Area

• The passenger area was an egg dozen cab.

• The cab was closed to safe the egg when its travel.

Main Challenges

Put the motor to work only with the solar cell. The solar cell generate too little current.

• And the most difficult was the board that cracked with the heat and the silicone, and we need to put the solar cell direct to the motor. We have a control to move the boat but not work without the board.

Team Overview

• The project was a good way to bring the tools that we learned on class.

• The team was perfect, and all the students work hard to do this project.

• This was an excellent experience to work in group.

Project Overview

• We know this project was one of the best project of this semester course.

• With a more powerful solar cell our experiment fly.

Final Comments

• Frankie – This project was good but we haven’t all the tools on department to make it.

• Gabriel – The project put our creativity to other levels.

• Felix – I think the project was good and I work very hard because I need it to pass the class.