aircraft carrier draft measurement

Aircraft Carrier Draft

MeasurementShip Draft Team - Fall 2015

Project Overview

Introduction

• Newport News Shipbuilding partnered with Old Dominion University to develop a draft measuring system for use on naval aircraft carriers and submarines • Guidelines

• Economical • Reduction of risk to personnel • Non-permanent mounting

Summer Overview

• The summer team performed a detailed comparison of non-contacting ultrasonic range finders versus laser range finders • The team determined that ultrasonic

systems were superior for measuring distance from a liquid surface

Sonar Overview

Ultrasonic (Principles)

• The ultrasonic range sensor sends a high frequency sound wave toward the water surface. The wave is then reflected back to the sensor.

• The distance from the sensor to the water surface is calculated based on the time of flight of the sound wave.

Fall Team Collaboration

Electronics System

Electronics System

• Researched hardware that met the requirements of the project• Arduino micro processor development board• Arduino compatible ultrasonic range sensor• Arduino compatible temperature sensor• Arduino compatible Bluetooth module

Current Electrical Work

• Researching software for each component • Testing each component for functionality

with code • Making necessary adjustments

• Integrating components into full system

Current Electrical Work

Future Electrical Work

• Develop reliable Bluetooth transmittance from module to pc • Develop human interface signal-light

code• Calibrate instrumentation • Perform full system testing

Current User Interface Work

• Develop Graphic User Interface (GUI) using ‘LabVIEW’• Finalize layout of interface

• LED on/off• Draft • Temperature • Humidity

• Develop communication between Arduino processor and LabVIEW

Future User Interface Work

• Convert signal output to integrate Bluetooth wireless system • Present functional interface to shipyard

liaison for user feedback

Testing Hardware

Current Work

• Ultrasonic sensor requires a clearance of 30 cm, so a small test tank would not suffice

• Designed floating test structure in SolidWorks• “Styrofoam pontoon”• Shipyard liaison

recommended redesign for mountable test structure

Future Work

• Modify existing test rig created by the summer team• Conduct initial testing using pre-existing

tank • Perform data collection and calibration on

sensor readings

Hull Attachment and Housing

Current Work

• Created a 3D design of magnetic self-leveling hull attachment mounting system using Autodesk Inventor • Rapidly prototyped the mounting system

using the MakerBot Z18 3D printer• Created a 3D design of the sensor

enclosure • Implemented elements to weatherproof the

enclosure

Assembly

Future Work

• Optimize the design of the hull attachment mounting system and sensor enclosure using finite element analysis

• Strength • Cost • Production time • Functionality

Project Materials Budget

Budget

• Received $300 start up money from the Department of Mechanical Engineering • Submitted undergraduate funding

proposal of $1000• Current expenses : $236

Gantt Chart

Gantt Chart (Task Assignments)

Gantt Chart (Completion Status)

Acknowledgements • Faculty advisor

• Dr. Miltiadis Kotinis • Shipyard Liaison

• Butch Brenton – Manager Engineering 3, Networks, Communication, and Automation

• Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Eng.• David Mooney – Team Manager • Sam Harpin • David Mann• Philip Stickle• Devin Samples-Wright• Thomas Wheeless

• Department of Electrical and Computer Eng.• Ashley Smith

• Department of Engineering Tech. • Ashley Wilson – EET

Questions