Junior's electrical infrastructure provides the power, computing, communications, and control interfaces required for autonomous surface operation. The system is designed around the physical and environmental constraints of the vehicle, with an emphasis on reliable power distribution, protected electronics, accessible connections, and organized wiring.
Junior's power system supplies the propulsion, computing, sensing, communications, and control systems required for operation. The system is designed around the power requirements of the onboard components while providing sufficient endurance for extended operation on the water.
Junior uses commercially available drill batteries as its primary battery source. This approach allows the team to source replacement batteries locally in Singapore rather than transporting dedicated battery packs internationally.
The battery configuration also supports hot-swapping. Diodes prevent current backflow between batteries, allowing a discharged battery to be replaced while another battery continues supplying power to the vehicle. This allows the onboard computers to remain powered during battery changes.
Junior's electrical enclosure houses the vehicle's primary electronics, including power distribution, onboard computing, communications equipment, and control interfaces. Component placement considers available space, center of mass, heat generation, cable routing, and accessibility for maintenance.
Because Junior operates on the water, the enclosure is designed to protect sensitive electronics from environmental exposure while maintaining access to the onboard systems. The removable lid and connector interfaces incorporate sealing to limit water entry while allowing components and connections to be accessed during maintenance and integration.
The enclosure also incorporates ventilation to manage heat generated by components such as the computing system and voltage regulation equipment.
Junior's wiring connects the battery and power distribution systems to the propulsion, computing, sensing, communications, and control systems. The layout is organized to provide accessible connections and support maintenance and troubleshooting.
The connector panels were redesigned for the current vehicle configuration. Connector cutouts were enlarged to provide additional clearance for updated connections, while lighter connectors were incorporated to reduce overall weight. The modular electrical layout allows components and connections to be modified as Junior's systems continue to develop.
Junior's electrical infrastructure supports communication between onboard systems and the larger Team Minion multi-agent system. The vehicle uses separate communication links to support the Minion Fleet. One link provides communication between Junior and the team's UAV and UUV platforms, while the other provides communication with the base station.
An Ethernet switch was added to the current configuration to support the vehicle's communications and sensing architecture. This network architecture allows Junior's onboard computing, sensors, and communications systems to exchange data while supporting communication with the team's other autonomous platforms.
Junior's electrical system incorporates safety and control hardware for testing and operation. The electrical architecture has evolved alongside Junior's mechanical and sensing systems. Changes to the enclosure, connector panels, network architecture, and component layout have been made as new hardware and system requirements were incorporated.
For the current RobotX configuration, connector cutouts were enlarged, lighter connectors were incorporated, and an Ethernet switch was added to support the vehicle's communications and sensing architecture. These changes allow the electrical system to remain accessible, modular, and adaptable as Junior progresses through integration and testing.
