CStrider

Post by: Tobias Larsson
19th January 2025
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Power Efficient Autonomous Docking

Programme: Mechanical Engineering

Course: Project in MT2573 : Transformative PSS Innovation

Corporate partner: Cstrider

Challenge: Identify a problem within the viticulture industry and develop a Transformative Product Service System (TPSS) solution.

Solution: With active stabilization during the boarding of passengers ““we’re losing like 40% of the energy”” says CStrider founder Tobias Husberg. A mechanical+magnetic docking solution was developed, with electromagnets mounted on the boat attracting the boat to a metal bracket installed on the side of a floating dock. When attracting into the right position, a ‘handle’ on the bracket enters a corresponding slot on the boat, after which linear actuators will push a locking pin through the handle, tethering the boat to the dock. Afterwards the magnet deactivates.

Impact: Through the power savings offered by the solution, a farther range can be achieved, or higher power consuming electronics can be installed on the boat, or a smaller battery could be utilized; or a mix of these options.

Prototypes: We 3D printed a part to house the various components, this frame would emulate the aft of the CStrider boat. A 12V DC magnet and a 12V linear actuator are mounted on the part, both supplied by a 12V DC battery pack. Electronics are connected to a breadboard, where a button controls the magnet, and 4 buttons in a H-bridge configuration controls the linear actuator.

Another part was 3D printed, the bracket with a handle which is mounted on the floating dock. A metal piece was glued to the bracket to make it ferromagnetic. This bracket was then mounted to a piece of foam.

Both parts were tested together in a tub with water. We wished to see if the attractive forces of the magnets overcome the turbulence of the water. and if there are difficulties with the docking procedure.
We discovered that the magnet, for this prototype, cannot attract the boat to the dock from a large distance (in this case ~3cm) which means theres likely the same problem even on large-scale prototype.
We saw that the magnet can hold the boat stationary in relation to the dock, but there are some tolerance and alignment issues which can cause the linear actuator to hit the bracket’s handle instead of passing through it. This could be solved by making the width of the handle greater, and ensuring the magnet sticks at the right high by making the ferromagnetic piece on the bracket a thinner piece of metal.

Furthermore, the slot on the boat which the bracket’s handle enters into could be wider or more chamfered to make entering the slot easier.

Quotes from sponsor/partner: –

Project team:

Kevin Larsson, Mechanical Engineering, class of 2025.
André Glanvik, Mechanical Engineering, class of 2025.
Mael Gal, Mechanical Engineering, class of 2026.

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