Building a semi Smart, DIY boat with Arduino and some other sensors

I based this off of this really nice instructables.com post for building a water bottle boat, with some additions for obstacle avoidance and light-guided control. I used Arduino as a microcontroller, an ultrasonic sensor in the front, a few simple switches on the side of the boat, and a few light sensors on either side. See here for a few more photos or here for a pdf step by step.

This simple little floating boat bounces off walls, can be steered with a flashlight, and won't hit something head-on.

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Step 1: MATERIALS

Screen Shot 2012-06-21 at 10.12.59 AM.png

Tape
hot glue + glue gun (silicon optional)
two small DC motors
two water bottles
wires
two small propellors
arduino + USB cable + computer
wire strippers
a plastic box
a 9V battery + a connector
a power diode (like 1n4004)
some resistors
scissors
a soldering iron + solder
a MOSFET transistor or TIP 120
2 few switches + 2 photocells

kinetike says: Aug 26, 2012. 4:57 AM

Haha, I hate this kind of spaghetti! Good job on this creation and your SNEEL! Love them both.

Kinnishian says: Jul 16, 2012. 11:46 AM

I'm a bit fan of the simplicity. I'm surprised the hot glue trick works for the motor-shaft. Definitively a tip I'll be trying to store away and remember.

alcurb says: Jun 25, 2012. 8:00 AM

Nice project.

You have a picture when its floating? I'm trying to picture it floating and wonder if the water leaks through the motor shaft holes, unless the shafts remain above water. How do the bottles remain air/water tight with said shaft holes?

I would like to see a video showing how it moves under its own control.

mathman47 in reply to alcurbJul 5, 2012. 8:52 PM

I race fast electric R/C boats. We put lube in the stuffing box (the tube the prop shaft goes through). I don't know of anyone who has had a problem with water entry through the stuffing box if the lube was applied properly.

N.fletch says: Jun 22, 2012. 9:57 AM

I'm sorry for asking a petty question: but how did you create the nice design of the arduino with the wires and other misc. components. I've seen other authors add these to their "ables". I would like to know so I could create my own.
Great instructable by the way!