Robot
Overview
The ITCH Robots primary function is to autonomously navigate vertically along the hull to remove fouling.
Below is a figure showing how the Robot looks and its different parts (not including brushes):
Assembly
The Robot can be assembled and disassembled to take less space during storage and support changing parts for different use cases or when replacing a damaged part. Below is a description of how to assemble a disassembled unit.
Parts required
- 1 ITCH profile
- 2 Brushes
- 2 M8 Bolts
- 1 Tail with camera
- 1 Nose
- 1 Tow bar with nut
- 1 Rudder with M6 bolt
- Security line
Assembly Sequence
- Slide the brushes into the profile
- Slide the nose over the brushes and fasten using the M8 bolt.
- Place the rudder on top of the rudder lever and secure using the attached M6 bolt.
- Screw on the towbar with the attached nut
- Screw on the tail to the charging point side of the profile using the second M8 bolt. Secure the camera to the profile using the security line.
Here is a video showing how it is done:
Operating Instructions
Turn Device On and Off
To switch the Robot on, you must pull the switch located opposite the status light in the Tail for a few seconds until you see the status light in the tail light up. To switch the device off again, you must pull the switch for 5-7 seconds until you see the status light go off.
During a normal startup sequence, the status light should start at blue, then quickly go over to a solid red. While red, the unit will initialise itself and go through a homing sequence to calibrate the position of the Rudder. If everything is successful, the status light will transition to a solid green. The unit is now ready to be used.
Status Light
Below is an overview of what operational status each status light colour indicates:
| Colour | Operational Status |
|---|---|
| Green | Everything ok and ready for cleaning |
| Solid Red | Something wrong, please restart the Robot |
| Blinking Red | Battery low |
| Solid Blue | Firmware update Mode |
| Blinking Blue | Download Data Mode |
Battery Charging
The Robot has an onboard battery which can be charged using the included charger which gets plugged into the charging port. It doesn't matter which orientation you plug in the connector. The charger has a status light that shows red when the robot is charging and green when the battery is full. You can also check the charge status of the battery by connecting to the Robot using the ITCH Application.
Camera
The ITCH Robot uses the Paralenz Dive Camera to document its cleaning performance. Please look at the following guide for more information on how it works. Paralenz User Guide