A remote-controlled bot designed to move through flooded areas and carry small relief payloads.
Overview
Flooding is not an abstract problem here. Every year someone I know loses a road, a market, or a few days of work. This project started as a what-if: a small robot that could push through water-logged areas and carry something useful — medicine, dry food, a small radio.
This prototype is the first version: a strong drive, a simple remote control, and a payload bay. It is far from a final rescue product, but it was a way to think seriously about what disaster-response robotics could look like in our context.
Specifications
RoleSystem designer and prototype builder
MicrocontrollerArduino Mega / Arduino-class controller
SensorsOptional camera / distance sensing
ModulesMotor driverWireless control modulePayload bay
Remote controller sends movement commands to the robot controller. The controller drives motor channels and supports payload/auxiliary actions.
Project photos
Flood rescue robot prototype
Robot detail view
Hardware view
Implementation details
Firmware
Firmware controls drive motors, interprets remote-control commands, and can be extended for sensor feedback or camera-assisted operation.
Power
Prototype power supports drive motors and logic electronics from a portable battery pack.
Components / BOM
Arduino controller, DC motors, Motor driver, Wireless control module, Battery pack
Engineering challenges
Traction on wet, unstable ground, keeping the electronics dry, and making sure the control link does not die at the worst possible moment.
Solutions
Picked a chassis with enough ground clearance, kept the electronics in a sealed area, and used a wireless link with a wide enough range for open spaces.
Results & metrics
Recognised in university project context and covered in an AUST news article. Useful as a base for a more rugged version later.
Future improvements
Real waterproofing, FPV camera, GPS, stronger flotation and a better payload mechanism.
