After completing my battlecars project, I was looking for an innovative use to put my CCD camera to. I came up with the CCD diver. This prototype utilizes a series of unique features to create a useful and fun invention. The diver is a streamlined, unmanned, mini submersible. It uses a unique dynamic u-joint drivetrain to provide simple, effective manouvering underwater. Using two servos to pivot the u-joint on two axis's the submersible is able to dive underwater and relay the view to the surface via a 60' tethered cord. This cord also allows manouvering and a safe tether in case the sub is lost or the sub is incapacitated. This submersible is equipped with a low-tech water sensor to protect the delicate servos and electronics from damage should any water or liquid enter the vessel. The sub is also equipped with twin halogen headlights, each 1/2" diameter, but with plenty of light to illuminate the immediate viewing area even in cloudy water. This item could be marketed toward the toy or novelty industry or to professional industrial use for inspecting submerged areas.

Some of the features of the sub included dual halogen headlights for illuminating the area directly in front of the CCD camera. The water-sensor was made by first soaking a thin fabric in saturated salt solution, then drying the fabric. Two screens were pressed together insulated by the dried fabric. It took less than one drop of water to allow enough current to pull closed a safety relay that cut power to all the other electronics.

The controller unit has a variable resistance speed control and the xy coordinates of the prop position is determined by a joystick controller. A fwd/reverse toggle is implemented to switch direction.