27MHz remote control

plus telemetry option

This future project is based on the 27MHz remote control system mentioned elsewhere on this website with the option for telemetry added. One antenna is used for both transmitting and receiving. The radio part is based on the AX5043 transceiver with which a half-duplex radio link is established. To the extent that this project can become a product at all, it will be a niche product. This is because of the limited stock of AX5043s. The following data will be transmitted to shore at a rate of about 5Hz:

Vessel status and errors
Depth and battery voltage
Speed and pitch (3D accelero meter)
Piston position (analogue) and the status of piston tank end-limit switches

Block diagram

The image of the PCB is a study to see if the research PCB (see elsewhere on this website) could be modified such that it fits in a model submarine (I/O and dimensions). Its dimensions are larger than those of the receiver of the system without telemetry and are approximately 75 x 115mm. This is partly because not only a receiver is needed in the model submarine but also a transmitter.

The antenna in the model submarine is a shortened isolated wire dipole antenna for use inside the watertight compartment of a model submarine. It is optimised (dielectric constant) for mounting against/on the plastic material of the watertight compartment. The two dipole elements (330mm wires) are soldered on a small impedance matching PCB that amongst others provides galvanic isolation (MABA-11040). The antenna has been successfully tested for receiving and transmitting purposes and is also used as receive antenna in the non-telemetry RC option.