OpenROV Meets Chicago's Lake Michigan
22 Aug 2014OpenROV #1227 went for a spin in Lake Michigan this week. Success! Here are a few first-voyage observations:
- The electronics chassis is truly waterproof. Same for the battery compartments. Waterproofing was my biggest concern during assembly. Hats off to the OpenROV team for an excellent set of assembly instructions.
- Condensation builds up in the electronics chassis during operation. A quick review of the OpenROV forum tells me that I should add a desiccant bag to the compartment. Or pack the unit in low humidity.
- The OpenROV is a little back-heavy. The back dips lower than the front during operation. I should add some weights to the front of the unit.
- Tether management is a must. After one voyage (can you really call a simple dip in the lake a voyage?) my OpenROV tether is a mess. Time to build a way to manage the tether.
What an exciting way to explore Node.js, BeagleBone Black, and the Maker Movement all at once.