1. Remotely Operated Vehicle Team – Power Conversion System
2014 – 2015: Linn-BentonCommunityCollege –Eli YazzolinoGilbert
Purpose:Linn-BentonCommunityCollegehasalong
historyas a participantandcontenderinthe MATE
ROV international competition.Inthe sevenyearlife
of the program,LBCC’s remotelyoperatedvehicles
have gaineda reputationforbeingbothinnovative
and creative;despitethe general lackof corporate
and/orprivate funding.The MATEROV international
competitionchallengesparticipantsbyprovidinga
newsetof missionspecifictasksand guidelines each
year.Our purpose asa participatingteam(company)
isto design,document,buildand demonstrate the
bestROV (product) possible forthe specifictasksandguidelinesprovided.
Task: The remotelyoperated vehicle builtforthis
year’scompetitionhad veryspecificpower
requirements.The MATEcompetitionspecified
that only one powerinputwouldbe giventoour
vehicle,a48VDC line withamaximumoutput
currentof 40 amps.Additionallythe rulesstated
that we wouldneedtostep the 48VDC down
internallybefore usingittopoweranyof our
otherelectronics.ThisyearIwastaskedto
create the ROV’spowerconversionsystem; in
doingso I wasable to create three efficient,modularandwaterproof DC/DCconvertermodulescapable
of steppingdown our48VDCinputto safelypower all ourotherelectronics. Careful considerationswere
put intothe designandphysical constructionof eachconvertermodule inordertominimize powerloss
and optimize functional flexibility. Everythingwasdone completelyin-house;fromthe design of the
printedcircuitboards,tothe waterproofingof eachcompletedmodule.
Knowledge Applied:
 Testedall electronicsneedingtobe poweredfortheirsteady,transientandpulse current
magnitudes.
 Usedmy understandingof electrical engineering (researchingwhatIdidn’tknow) andgathered
data to designefficient,safe andreliable DC/DCconversioncircuits aroundexistingswitch-mode
powerconverterunits.
 Taught myself howtouse PCBCad-software (KiCad),andthen createddouble-sidedPCBdesigns
for eachpowerconversion circuit.
 Taught myself howto,andthen usedthe tonertransfermethod toprintand etch each design
ontodouble-sidedcopperPCBs.
 Constructed,wiredandwaterproofed eachof the three circuitboards; waterproofingwasdone
usingsolidepoxyresin.Additionally,heat-sinkswere attached toeachof the switch-mode
powerconverterunits(priortowaterproofing) withtheirendsindirectcontactwiththe open
water.