Creating a safer future for maritime travel
Our Vision
Nautical Safety
Alex has had previous employment with the Department of National Defense, as well as with the Canadian Coast Guard. In both jobs there was a focus on safe practices while working on marine-based equipment. To start, the idea of a marine safety system was proposed and debated with all members of the group. A decision was reached, and the Nautilus System was born.
Initial Concepts
Through various design iterations, we trialed and tested component layouts and PCB designs alongside code and hardware features until we reached a state we were comfortable with. A part of our tests composed of run-time tests, to see how long our motors and motor drivers could last. We discovered thermal and current issues, and rectified them early on by replacing the components with those of much higher capabilities.
Fruition
Our project has come to completion due to the hard work of the team. With our second iteration of Printed Circuit Board design for the Remote-Operated Vehicle proving capable of withstanding the runtime and current requirements of the project, we can confidently call it a successful test-bed. Our Overboard Locator proves itself by boasting a water-detection system allowing for automatic activation within water. The final piece, the Home Station, brings the two components together and allows for them to function properly.
The Nautilus System in Three Parts
The Nautilus Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) is a meter-long autonomous watercraft capable of communicating over a 915MHz LoRa connection and navigating towards a given location while providing flotation support and increased visibility, aiding marine rescue efforts.
It uses GNSS positioning data in combination with a magneto-inertial orientation sensor to determine its location and heading, which is processed on the integrated Cortex-M0 microprocessor by our custom firmware and sent to a pair of 25W 12-volt motors to achieve fully autonomous navigation.
The Overboard Locator (OBL) is a small device designed to be attached to the front of a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) that is capable of detecting submersion in water and subsequently alerting the system of a person overboard event.
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Featuring the same ATSAMD21G18 Cortex-M0 microprocessor, RFM95 LoRa module, and MTK3339 GPS module as on the ROV, this unit is equally capable of LoRa communication and GNSS positioning but incorporates several additional user-oriented features to improve ease-of-use and reliability. Once activated, it continuously broadcasts its location to the other components of the Nautilus System up to 2 kilometres away.
The Home Station is a Raspberry Pi-based command and control center that monitors and configures the entire system to ensure that the components interact smoothly with each other and that any problems are caught before they impact the system.
The built-in display shows an overview of the state of the various components in the system, with further information available and configurable on computer or mobile via a web interface.
Meet the Team
Core Values
Reliability
Reliability is at the core of our products, ensuring that Nautilus system we deliver meets the highest standards of performance and durability. Our focus on quality control and testing guarantees that our systems operate flawlessly, providing reliability in critical situations.
Cost
To provide competition in the market, and to be feasible for our project, the Nautilus System required a much lower cost for design and production than other products on the market. We have successfully delivered on a lower cost for a more robust solution in the prototype phase.
Safety
The Nautilus system ensures safety and peace mind for every user. With its innovative design and reliable features, you can confidently add it to your vessel in order to provide an extra layer of protection to everyone aboard.
