By
Robbie(12), Robin(12),
Lewys(12),
Tim(8), Kurt(12),
Josh(12) and
Lachlan(10).
Tim
Robin
Lewys
Josh
Robbie
Unfortunately Kurt wasn’t there
Lachlan
Why did we do this?
Last year we went to the competition and thought that
we might try it.
So this year we’re entering the competition.
The Technology
 Solar Panels
 Motor
 Remote control
 Batteries (only on the receiver and transmitter)
 A switch
 Steering servo
 Receiver
Our Sources
 http://www.delftship.net/
 http://www.members.iinet.net.au/~gveale/solar/photosvid
eo.htm
 http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/files/extranet/docs/DSC/Pt2_
Archimedes4Airheads.pdf
The Process
We went to all three meetings organized by Penrith City Council and learnt lots (and
were well fed ).
The Design and Electronics tests
 At our first meeting we discussed the hull and
electronics that we will need and those we don’t.
 On Sunday the 9th of September we tested the
electronics on Josh’s pool in a foam box.
Tim , Robbie and Josh decided to
document our progress in Power Point
Some early design ideas
Prototype 1
PROTOTYPE 1
was a great success.
We built it to test
different prop shaft
angles.
It showed that the
least angle is best, but
if the prop is just a
little out of the water,
a lot of power is lost.
Prototype 2
Prototype 2
We added a rudder
controlled by a servo, and
used a wider, higher rimmed
base to avoid water spilling
in onto the technology.
We found out that the wire
connecting the rudder and
the servo has to be very stiff,
so that it does not bend.
We need to know how far
the signal from the remote
reaches.
Prototype 3
Prototype 3
Four solar panels were
mounted onto a piece of red
Perspex. We connected up the
solar panels, but still kept the
battery, so we could test the
boat in low light. We worked
out that we needed four more
panels to have enough energy
to drive the boat in overcast
conditions.
Lachlan’s Bottle Boat
Lachlan’s design
drawings for
his bottle boats.
Lachlan’s Bottle Boat
Lachlan’s bottle boat is made of
juice bottles, kebab sticks,
small water bottles and gaffer
tape. It floated well, but did
not turn well. It was
Prototype # 4.
Another idea
Tennis ball cylinders float
well, too! 
(Except when the tennis
cylinder caps aren’t
sealed properly)
WHIRL POOL EXPERIMENT
We wrapped up the boat in Cling
Wrap to protect the technology
from water and put the boat in a spa
to test its stability.
Result: The boat was stable and did
not tip over
Robbie is taking notes so we can
put more information into the
slide show.
Learning to cut and work the polystyrene
Gloss deep base
Wattyl stone finish
Wattyl Solarguard
The Final Control Unit
Inside of the control unit,
with batteries to try prop
position
Four solar panels in
place for trials
Getting closer
 Attaching hulls to the
control unit
First trial run
It floats well
but is too wide.
One problem though
At the next meeting
in Penrith, we found
out the boat was
too wide!
So we shrunk it!
and hid the box
in the hulls
But the box of tricks was great
Our wiring diagram,
allowing the boat to
have more grunt, even
in overcast conditions
Fine-tuning
We wanted the final shape
to be hydro-dynamic and
shaped like a racing boat
Getting the final shape
We cut away at the top of the boat, making sure both hulls looked
similar
Looking good
Fairing it
The Final
Product