Skip to main content
Book cover

Robotic Sailing 2014 pp 87–93Cite as

Piezoelectric Vibrational Sensor for Sail Luffing Detetection on Robotic Sailboats

  • Conference paper

Abstract

Current robotic sailing relies on sensing wind direction and moving the sails to a position that is appropriate for that relative wind angle. The research to date shows that a correctly tuned sail in the classic wing shape is essential for maximum speed over water. This paper relates research on sensors used to determine when sail trim is incorrect. With improper sail trim, the sail luffs. This luffing produces turbulence which reduces the efficiency of the sail. By instrumenting the sail with sensors to detect when sails begin to luff, the robot can determine when the sail is improperly trimmed and, potentially, take corrective action.

Keywords

  • Piezoelectric Ceramic
  • Sensor Output
  • Wing Shape
  • Rochelle Salt
  • Piezoelectric Strip

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-10076-0_8
  • Chapter length: 7 pages
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • ISBN: 978-3-319-10076-0
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Abril, J., Salom, J., Calvo, O.: Fuzzy control of a sailboat. International Journal of Approximate Reasoning 16(3-4), 359–375 (1997), http://mapp1.de.unifi.it/persone/Allotta/ICAD/Abril1997.pdf

    CrossRef  MATH  Google Scholar 

  2. Avery, L.: VirtualDub video capture and video processing utility, http://www.virtualdub.org/

  3. Eastwell, P.H.: Bernoulli? Perhaps, but what about viscosity. The Science Education Review 6(1) (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Giger, L., Wismer, S., Boehl, S., Büsser, G., Erckens, H., Weber, J., Moser, P., Schwizer, P., Pradalier, C., Siegwart, R.: Design and construction of the autonomous sailing vessel avalon. In: Proc. 2nd Int. Robotic Sailing Conf., pp. 17–22 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hertel, L., Schlaefer, A.: Data Mining for Optimal Sail and Rudder Control of Small Robotic Sailboats. In: Sauze, C., Finnis, J. (eds.) Robotic Sailing 2012, vol. 121, pp. 37–48. Springer, Heidelberg (2013)

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  6. Iosilevskii, G., Weihs, D.: Hydrodynamics of sailing of the Portuguese man-of-war Physalia physalis. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 6(36), 613–626 (2009)

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  7. Jaffe, B.: Piezoelectric ceramics, vol. 3. Elsevier (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lainé, R., Lainé, J.: Sailcut CAD, http://www.sailcut.com/

  9. Le Bars, F., Jaulin, L.: An experimental validation of a robust controller with the VAIMOS autonomous sailboat. In: Sauze, C., Finnis, J. (eds.) Robotic Sailing 2012, vol. 121, pp. 73–84. Springer, Heidelberg (2013)

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  10. Martinsen, P., Rowe, P.: MegunoLink: serial data visualization and control, http://www.megunolink.com/

  11. Measurement Specialties, Inc., MiniSense 100 Vibration Sensor Datasheet, https://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Sensors/Flex/MiniSense_100.pdf

  12. Rynne, P.F., von Ellenrieder, K.D.: Development and Preliminary Experimental Validation of a Wind- and Solar-Powered Autonomous Surface Vehicle. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering 35(4) (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Sawyer, C., Tower, C.: Rochelle Salt as a Dielectric. Physical Review 35, 2 (1930)

    Google Scholar 

  14. VLC media player, http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, Olin Way, Needham, MA, 02492, USA

    Halie Murray-Davis & David Barrett

Authors
  1. Halie Murray-Davis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David Barrett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Halie Murray-Davis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Bio-Inspired Electronics & Reconfigurable Computing Research Group, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

    Fearghal Morgan

  2. Hewlett Packard HP Cloud, Galway, Ireland

    Dermot Tynan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Murray-Davis, H., Barrett, D. (2015). Piezoelectric Vibrational Sensor for Sail Luffing Detetection on Robotic Sailboats. In: Morgan, F., Tynan, D. (eds) Robotic Sailing 2014. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10076-0_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10076-0_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-10075-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-10076-0

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)