Engineers of Innovation – The Solar Boat Project

The Engineers of Innovation Alumni Association is a group of dedicated engineers committed to promoting innovation and technology in the field of engineering. By creating a community of alumni who can share their knowledge and resources, the association aims to help the next generation of engineers succeed. One of the most exciting projects we have undertaken is the Solar boat project.

The Solar boat project is an ambitious undertaking that aims to develop a high-performance, solar-powered boat. The main goal of the project is to make the boat as efficient as possible, not just by optimising the drive train, but also by reducing power consumption through various means. For instance, the team is exploring ways to reduce friction with the water, minimise power consumption by peripheral electronics, and develop a race strategy that maximises the boat’s efficiency.

To achieve this goal, the boat’s design is based on cutting-edge technology, including lightweight materials, high-efficiency solar panels with custom-developed maximum power point trackers (MPPTs), and an advanced propulsion system that is currently under development. The boat’s solar panels capture energy from the sun, which is stored in the solar boat’s battery. The batteries power the boat’s electric motor, allowing it to travel at impressive speeds while emitting zero emissions.

Recently, the Engineers of Innovation collaborated with Eurocircuits production to develop a custom Battery Management System (BMS) for the solar boat. This system required three separate PCBs, including the main BMS PCB, which was the most complex one. We uploaded the production files and component placement information to the Eurocircuits website, where we used the PCB visualizer to verify that their design complied with their set design rules. This feature helped us identify any design flaws before sending it for production.

After verifying the design, we used the PCBA visualizer to check all the component values, and Eurocircuits offered standard components for free where possible. However, due to the chip shortages, some of the more obscure chip selections were not available through Eurocircuits’ standard suppliers. Nevertheless, Eurocircuits made it easy for us to provide customer-provided components, which we sourced from other suppliers.

Eurocircuits provided the team with clear instructions on how to label and ship the components, which we followed diligently. Eurocircuits received the components on time, and the team was impressed with their ability to produce fully assembled PCBs with their components within the agreed-upon timeframe. Engineers of Innovation appreciated Eurocircuits’ efficiency in producing their battery management system and highly recommend them to anyone looking for quality PCBs. We found Eurocircuits’ website easy to navigate and appreciated the useful visualizers that helped them in the design verification process. Furthermore, Eurocircuits’ customer service was exceptional, and they provided clear instructions on how to proceed with the production process.

The Solar boat project not only presents an exciting engineering challenge, but it also has important implications for the future of sustainable energy. Solar power is becoming increasingly popular as a renewable energy source, and the Solar boat project demonstrates how it can be harnessed to power even the most demanding applications. By developing a solar-powered boat that is highly efficient and emits zero emissions, the project shows how renewable energy can be used to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and move towards a more sustainable future.

For more information please visit the Engineers of Innovation website.

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