2026
In progress! All of the lessons and best features from prior Puffins applied, plus:
- Single propulsion motor, worm gear driven rudder
- Durable HDPE hull, floation foam filled
- Solar AND wind powered (ultrasonic wind sensor, automatic sail deployment)
- ESP32 MCU on purpose-build PCB, Iridium SBD comms, OTA (hopefully)
- Custom ESP-NOW based remote with e-ink display
2025
- Solar powered (100W nominal)
- Differential thrust steering; lightweight monohull, 1 person deployable
- Propeller fouling detection and mitigation system
- ESP32 MCU on purpose-build PCB, Iridium SBD comms; telemetry in AWS
- New compass with calibration and tilt compensation in firmware
- Fully independent, 2 axis gimbal mounted backup satellite tracker
- Bluetooth and standard RC remote for short distance control
- Fully autonomous; in-mission adjustable route; new cross-track error correction
2024
- Solar powered (175W nominal)
- Differential thrust steering, monohull, 1 person deployable
- ESP32 MCU on purpose-build PCB, Iridium SBD comms; telemetry in AWS
- Fully independent, 2 axis gimbal mounted backup satellite tracker
- Bluetooth and standard RC remote for short distance control
- Fully autonomous; in-mission adjustable route
2020
