Development of Driving and Steering Unit of Orchard Sprinkler Boat Using Fluidics

A model fluidics (54 mm × 28 mm) was studied for its applicability as a steering unit to a sprinkler boat. A water jet was deflected at an inlet pressure of more than 2.0 kPa, where the velocity of the water jet is was more than 2.2 m/s. The bow thrust of the fluidics when attached onto the model boat (36 cm × 16 cm) was 0.02 to 0.12 N and quadratic to the increasing velocity of the water jet ranging between 2.2 to 5.4 m/s. Investigation of boat turning revealed that the turning trajectory transcribed a steady turning circle with a turning radius of 0.6 to 1.1 m at a peripheral velocity ranging between 0.15 and 0.28 m/s.