platypus Lutra Instruction Manual

Lutra Documentation
Release 1.1
Platypus, LLC
July 11, 2015

Contents
1 Introduction 3
1.1 Safety and Cautions ........................................... 3
1.2 Specifications ............................................... 4
2 Assembly 5
2.1 Shroud Assembly ............................................. 5
2.2 Electronics Compartment Assembly ................................... 5
2.3 Complete Boat Assembly ........................................ 5
3 Operation 7
3.1 Startup Procedure ............................................ 7
3.2 Shutdown Procedure ........................................... 8
4 Software 9
4.1 Operator Interface ............................................ 9
4.2 Establishing A Connection With the Boat ................................ 9
4.3 Operating Modes ............................................. 10
4.4 Tele-operation Mode ........................................... 10
4.5 Autonomous Mode ............................................ 10
4.6 Assigning Waypoints ........................................... 10
4.7 Assigning Paths ............................................. 11
4.8 Assigning an Area ............................................ 11
4.9 Deploying Multiple Boats ........................................ 11
4.10 Visualizing Sensor Data ......................................... 12
5 Sensors 13
6 Indices and tables 15
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Contents 1

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2 Contents

CHAPTER 1
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Platypus Lutra 1.x Autonomous Airboat. The Lutra 1.x series boats are low cost
autonomous airboats designed for environmental data collection, flood response and related applications.
The Platypus Lutra 1.x is equipped with a smartphone, which acts as the computing platform for the system and
provides the inertial sensors for navigation. The camera in the smartphone provides a stream of images that can be re-
motely viewed on the operator interface. For advance computing applications, the robot can be upgraded by switching
to a more powerful smartphone. The robot can communicate with the computer running the operator interface either
via a local wireless network or using 3G cellular network (Cellular card not included).
The robot is compatible with most commercial environmental sensors. Sensors that are currently supported include
Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Temperature, Specific Conductivity, ORP, Depth, Forward and downward high definition
cameras. To equip your robot with any of these sensors, please contact customer support ([email protected])
to get a quote. The robot itself can also be customized according to the user specific requirements.
1.1 Safety and Cautions
The propeller of the Lutra 1.x series boats are encased in a protective mesh covered shroud to avoid accidents. The
mesh SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED at any point of time while the boat is in operation or when the battery is plugged
in. During operation, the propeller on the Lutra 1.x series robots rotate at more than 4000 rpm, hence contact with the
propeller can cause serious injury.
In order to build the robot as light as possible, the propulsion assembly on the Platypus Lutra 1.x series is made
from 80% impact reinforced Acrylic. Acrylics in general are brittle plastics but the impact reinforcement doubles the
strength. Nevertheless the boat should be handled with extreme care while transportation and in use.
The Platypus Lutra 1.x series robots are equipped with an 8000 mAh Lithium Polymer (LiPo) battery. Extreme caution
must be taken while handing the LiPo battery as accidental physical damage cased by dropping the battery or denting
it might cause the battery to catch fire. Do not leave the battery unattended while charging. Please refer to general
safety tips for handing LiPo batteries in the following link: www.maxamps.com/lipo-care.php
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1.2 Specifications
DIMENSIONS
(LxBxH)
80x48x40 cm SYSTEM
POWER
Electric 12 V 16Ah (extendable)
WEIGHT 10 kg OPERATING
TIME
3 hrs typ 12 hrs (extendable)
SPEED 2 km/h (typical) 8 km/h
(max)
RECHARGE
TIME
5 hrs
DRAFT 10 cm COMMUNICA-
TION
Wireless 802.11b/g/n 3G, EDGE
MIN REQ DEPTH 10 cm ENVIRON-
MENTAL
IP 66 -10/ +40 °C
HULL Thermoformed ABS FEEDBACK Battery status Location Heading
SHROUD Impact-resistant Acrylic CONTROL Fully-Autonomous Semi-Autonomous
Tele-operated
SENSOR
INTERFACE
Dissolved Oxygen, Specific Conductivity, Temperature, pH, ORP, Depth, Env-RGB, Forward and Downward camera. (Others available of request)
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CHAPTER 2
Assembly
2.1 Shroud Assembly
2.2 Electronics Compartment Assembly
2.3 Complete Boat Assembly
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