CPM AnchorBot
The CPM AnchorBot is a RC buoy is 11” in diameter and 10” in height. A high visible removable 9.5” bright high visibility orange cone can be placed on top. The mark body and lid are white but can be painted to aid in additional visibility if desired. The AnchorBot comes fully built and only need a 2.4ghz Rx and you are ready to go. Cost is $350.00 plus shipping.
For Tx setup a 6CH radio is needed. I
use my boats radio (Spektrum) and set the AnchorBot as
another model and just switch between them.
It has been brought to our attention
that you cannot change between models on the FlySky Radios
wthout turning off the first model so unless you are using
the FlySky Radio as a dedicated Radio for the AnchorBot you
will need another radio system like the Spektrum or Futaba
that allows changing between models wothout turning off the
first Model. I use an older model Spektrum DX8 Radio to
contol all four of our AnchorBots and just switch between
models.
Steering is set to the right stick
(Like rudder on your sailboat)
Thruster is set to the left stick ( the
Thruster is more powerful than needed so only a little
thrust is required to get the buoy to really move).
A two-position switch (usually on the
top left of your Tx) is used to engage and disengage the
winch motor.
A three-position switch is used to winch the anchor. Operation of the switch is
Down position winches the anchor up
Middle position Locks the anchor
Up position will reverse and let the
winch line out (this feature is rarely used)
To operate AnchorBot you drive to the
desired location using a single steerable thruster. Once in
the desired location release the anchor lock and drop the
anchor. Once the Anchor is down you lock the anchor off and
can turn off the Transmitter and the buoy will go into sleep
mode.
To reposition the AnchorBot, winch the
anchor weight off the bottom a few feet and drive the buoy
to the new location, drop the anchor to the bottom and lock
in place again.
When done sailing, winch the anchor off
the bottom and once clear you can start driving the buoy
back to the dock. There is a micro switch on the bottom of
the bot that will stop the anchor winch once the anchor is
fully retracted.
In supper buddy bottoms I will watch
the bot as the anchor is winched in as the winch is strong
enough to pull it under water so when the bot start to get
low in the water I turn off the winch and them to flotation
of the buoy pull the anchor free and resume winching once
clear. For super deep water and to prevent the anchor from
burying itself deeply in the mud I will pull out some of the
anchor line so the anchor has less distance to fall.
If you have any questions, please let
me know.
Dave
