Team Members: Jack Blair, Nicholas Rising, Onur Gunduz, Nicholas Bonanno

Mentor: Mrs. Kristen Kucko

The Challenge: Navigating Uncharted Waters

Rowing technology has long been dominated by a few players, offering expensive solutions with limited functionalities. Nielsen-Kellerman Company (NK Sports) had premium but costly rowing electronics, while Peach Innovations provided comprehensive solutions at a premium price. There was a gap in the market, and that's where SmartSkeg came into play.

Our mission was clear: create an affordable yet advanced rowing system that provided real-time data and autonomous steering capabilities. This was our opportunity to challenge the status quo and make a significant impact on the sport of rowing.

We embarked on the SmartSkeg project with a clear vision: to bring a technological revolution to the sport of Crew. In Crew, rowers push the boat forward while sitting backward, guided by a coxswain who controls the steering and rowing intensity. The key metrics in this sport are stroke rate, split (speed over distance), and set (boat balance). The existing equipment, the Cox Box, provides some of this data but is limited in its capabilities, bulky, and expensive.

Our solution, SmartSkeg, is a device that mounts on a Crew shell and offers advanced rowing statistics that were previously inaccessible. It captures essential metrics like stroke rate, split, and set, and streams this data in real-time to mobile phones. This immediate access to data allows coaches to make informed, on-the-spot decisions, optimizing boat line-ups and enhancing performance. One of the most innovative features of SmartSkeg is its potential for autonomous steering in smaller boats, which could revolutionize training sessions and competitive races.

Shockingly Complex Technology

The highlight of the SmartSkeg project was the development of autonomous boat steering. We introduced a 3D-printed rudder controlled through a user-friendly mobile app. This technological marvel was a testament to our team's ingenuity and determination to push the boundaries of what's possible.

Our commitment to learning and mastering new software and tools, such as SwiftUI, React Native, React, Python, and C++, enabled us to create cutting-edge hardware and software components. These components not only met but exceeded the expectations of rowers, coaches, and enthusiasts in the sport.

From a technical standpoint, we took an iterative approach to designing the PCB, resulting in a slim, high-speed signaling, four-layer design. The PCB is equipped with an ESP32 microcontroller, GPS, accelerometer, camera, and wireless transceiver. The casing for the bow module is a testament to durability and functionality, with its 3D printed shell, waterproof design, and wireless charging capability.

On the software side, we developed a mobile app that communicates via HTTP and offers features such as split, stroke rate, timer, rudder control, acceleration curve, and set graph. The real-time data visualization ensures that coaches have a clear view of the team's performance at any given moment. Additionally, we created a desktop app to serve as a workout analyzer for post-practice reviews, complete with GIS options via Mapbox and displays of weather conditions, velocity, and other crucial metrics.

In conclusion, our SmartSkeg project is a testament to innovation and dedication. It promises to push the rowing community forward, offering insights and analytics that were previously out of reach. The future of Crew looks brighter with the introduction of SmartSkeg, and the rowing community stands to benefit immensely from this technological advancement.