Project Overview
When Theory Meets Water
Ashton the Turtleduck is a hands-on electromechanical project built to explore what really happens when electrical theory leaves the classroom and meets the real world. The goal was simple on paper: use ionized water to complete an electrical circuit and power a motor. In practice, it quickly became an exercise in mechanical design, electrical trade-offs, and experimental uncertainty.
This project combines conductivity, buoyancy, waterproofing, and energy conversion into a single system that had to physically work—not just look correct in calculations.
Mission & Goals
What We Set Out to Build
Core Objective
Design and build a floating electromechanical device that activates when placed in ionized water, demonstrating resistance, current flow, buoyancy, and energy conversion.
Performance Analysis
Measure electrical and mechanical performance, identify energy losses, and understand why real systems rarely behave like ideal models.
Engineering Reality
Beyond making the system function, learn how interdisciplinary challenges interact in ways that textbooks don't prepare you for.
Mechanical & Electrical Design
Building a Floating System
The Turtleduck body was fully 3D printed and sealed to protect internal electronics from water exposure. Special care was taken with buoyancy and weight distribution to ensure the device floated level while still allowing the motor shaft to interact with the external load.
Early testing revealed severe corrosion issues when using copper electrodes, leading to unreliable electrical behavior. To solve this, the electrodes were redesigned using aluminum, which significantly reduced oxidation and improved consistency during testing.
Circuit Logic & Theory
Making Water Conductive
When salt is added to water, the resistance of the water decreases, allowing current to flow between the electrodes and complete the circuit. Using Ohm's Law (V = IR), this increase in current enables the motor to activate.
In this system, the water itself acts as a variable conductive path rather than an insulator. Small changes in salt concentration had noticeable effects on current flow and motor behavior, reinforcing the sensitivity of real electrical systems to environmental conditions.
Testing & Results
Measuring Real Performance
To evaluate system performance, efficiency testing was conducted using a hanging mass experiment. Electrical energy from the circuit was converted into mechanical motion, lifting a known mass over a measured distance.
By recording voltage, current, lifted mass, and time, the system's electrical input power and mechanical output power were estimated. While the overall efficiency was low, the results clearly demonstrated where energy was being lost—primarily through friction, water resistance, and sealing constraints.
Experimental Energy Breakdown
| Stage | Measured Quantity | Symbol | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Input | Voltage / Current | V, I | Measured across water electrodes |
| Mechanical Output | Lifted Mass | m | Hanging mass experiment |
| Time Response | Lift Duration | t | Used for power estimation |
| Energy Conversion | Efficiency Estimate | η | Electrical → Mechanical |
Exact numerical values and calculations are documented in the project report and will be added here for future reference.
Engineering Challenges
Real Problems, Real Solutions
- Achieving reliable waterproofing significantly increased mechanical complexity
- Friction and sealing methods reduced mechanical efficiency
- Electrical measurements varied due to changing water conductivity
- Repeating experiments consistently proved difficult
- A simple-looking system revealed strong interdisciplinary dependencies
Lessons Learned
Takeaways from the Turtleduck
Interdisciplinary Reality
Engineering problems rarely belong to a single discipline. Electrical theory, mechanical constraints, materials science, and experimental uncertainty all interacted in ways that could not be ignored.
Troubleshooting > Theory
Real systems expose weaknesses in assumptions, and troubleshooting often matters more than initial calculations. Iteration and adaptation are core engineering skills.
Simplicity is Hard
What looks simple on paper can be remarkably complex in execution. The best solutions come from understanding failures and building resilience into the design.
Future Improvements
Next Generation Turtleduck
Future iterations of the Turtleduck would include a modular battery system, improved sealing techniques, and more precise experimental measurement methods.
Refining the mechanical transmission and reducing friction would also improve efficiency and repeatability. Additionally, exploring alternative electrode materials and coatings could further enhance conductivity stability.
Media & Documentation
Visual Evidence