Remote-Controlled Duck Decoy: Engineering Innovation for Hunting and Research

1. Radio-Controlled Duck Decoy May 03-25 April 30th, 2003 Team Members: Faculty Advisors: Jason Freerksen Prof. Robert Weber Kooi-Tjek Lau Prof. Clive Woods Evan Smith Vladimir Stevanovich Client: Kyle Wetjen Senior Design

2. Presentation Outline • Terms Used • Acknowledgement • Problem Statement • Operating Environment • Users and Uses • Assumptions and Limitations • End-Product Description • Accomplishments • Approaches

3. Presentation Outline (continued) • Project Definitions • Activities • Human and Financial Budget • Evaluation of Project Success • Commercialization • Recommendations for Further Work • Lessons Learned • Project Risks and Concerns • Closing Summary

4. Terms Used and Defined • DNR – Department of Natural Resources • RF – Radio Frequency • Tx – Transmitter of radio signal • Rx – Receiver of radio signal • PIC – Programmable Integrated Circuit • PWM – Pulse Width Modulation

5. Acknowledgement A & M Waterfowl, Inc. www.therealdecoy.com

6. Problem Statement General Problem Statement: • Users desire complete remote control of decoy • Decoy must look, act, and sound like a real duck

7. Problem Statement General Solution-Approach Statement: • Motorized duck decoy • RF Tx/Rx system • Speed controller • Steering control system via servo and rudder • Long lasting battery packs • Garage door Tx/Rx system for sound activation • Programmable sound chip • Sound amplification system • Compact audio speaker

8. Operating Environment • In water such as ponds and small lakes • Hunters will hunt in all weather conditions • Decoy will likely be dropped or abused

9. Intended Users and Uses Intended Users: • DNR personnel • Duck researchers • Duck hunters Intended Uses: • Studying ducks and their migrating patterns • Hunting ducks for sport • Attracting ducks for any other reason

10. Assumptions and Limitations Assumptions: • 2-channel RF Tx/Rx system enough to give life-like movement to decoy • Noise of motor will be negligible • Batteries will provide sufficient power • The RF Tx/Rx system will have minimal interference from motor

11. Assumptions and Limitations (cont.) Limitations: • Limited experience with wireless technology • Limited time and funding for project • Decoy must be the same size as a real duck

12. End-Product Description and Deliverables • Decoy that looks, acts, and moves like a real duck • Easy to control using RF Tx/Rx controllers • Moves forward, reverse, and turns • Battery powered with minimal power consumption for long operating time • Sound reproduction implemented external to decoy

13. Present Accomplishments • Decoy finished according to specifications • Sound reproduction finished according to specifications • Project completely finished

14. Approaches Considered • Decoy • Standard vs. Motorized • RF Tx/Rx Controls • Preassembled vs. Design from scratch • Drive System • Dual motor vs. Motor/Rudder System

15. Approaches Considered (cont) • Speed Controller • Design H-Bridge/PIC vs. Speed Controller • Sound • Pneumatic vs. Electronic • Power Supply • Rechargeable vs. non-rechargeable

16. Project Definition Activities • Decoy that looks, acts, and moves like a real duck • Easy to control using RF Tx/Rx system • External sound implementation due to legality issues

17. Research Activities • Duck Decoys • RF Tx/Rx systems • Speed Controllers • Power consumption • Batteries

18. Design Activities Design Constraints: • Power consumption • Size of duck decoy • Testing and operating conditions • Buoyancy

19. Design Activities

20. Implementation Activities Problems encountered and how they were overcome: • Converting PWM from receiver to supply motor • Reducing interference from the motor • Receiving unusable parts Suggestions for improved implementation: • Use standard decoy and add motor • Use a more compact and/or efficient Tx/Rx system for sound reproduction

21. Testing and Modification Activities • 2 Channel RF Tx/Rx controller • Both channels working properly • Duck decoy’s motor and speed controller • Proportional movement, forward and reverse • Servo and Rudder • Rudder steers in both directions via the servo • Sound chip, amplification system, and speaker • Plays and amplifies recorded sound • Fully assembled decoy • Forward and reverse movement along with steering capabilities

22. Other Significant Project Activities Significant accomplishments (not covered elsewhere): • Obtained free motorized duck decoy • Researched hearing frequency of waterfowl Final status of major components of the end product: • Motor Control (100% done) • Steering Control (100% done) • Sound Reproduction (100% done)

23. Personnel Effort

24. Financial Budget

25. Evaluation of Project Success Milestones: • Finalize design(fully met) • Order and receive parts (fully met) • Assemble and test steering system (fully met) • Assemble and test sound system (fully met) • Assemble all functional parts (fully met) • Test and finalize complete product (fully met)

26. Commercialization • Estimated cost to produce product: • Single product: $125 • Mass production: $50 • Estimated street selling price: • Estimated at: $90-$100 • Potential market for product: • DNR employees • Duck hunters and researchers

27. Recommendation for Further Work • Commercialized version of the product • A&M Waterfowl could potentially commercialize the radio-controlled swimmer duck decoy with only a few additional parts

28. Lessons Learned Things that went well: • Ordered and received parts ahead of schedule • Motorized duck decoy donated Things that did not go well: • Received decoy that was Styrofoam and unusable • Project specifications were illegal

29. Lessons Learned Non-Technical Knowledge gained: • Communication is most important part of a team project • Research every aspect thoroughly before coming to any decisions Technical Knowledge gained: • Understanding PWM • Wireless communication

30. Risk and Risk Management Anticipated Potential Risks: • Parts breaking inside decoy • Duck sinking during testing • Electrical parts getting wet • Improper assembly of parts • Change of project specifications • Ordered parts do not arrive on time • Loss of team member

31. Risk and Risk Management Anticipated Risks Encountered to Date: • Project specification was illegal Unanticipated Risks Encountered to Date: • Received the wrong parts (unusable parts)

32. Closing Summary • Problem: There currently is a shortage of remote controllable duck decoys available on the market for hunters and DNR rangers • Approach Used: Start with a motorized decoy and add remote-control functionality • Resulting Solution: Low cost, high performance decoy that definitely has a market in hunting retail stores

33. Questions/Comments?