Rancang Bangun Sistem Instrumentasi Pengatur Distribusi Muatan Tiga Sumbu Berbasis Arduino Untuk Simulasi Stabilitas Kapal

Abstract

Ship stability is strongly influenced by cargo distribution, because a change in cargo position alters the vessel's centre of gravity and consequently its stability condition. This study presents the design and development of a three-axis cargo distribution instrumentation system based on Arduino for a ship stability simulation model. The system enables controlled cargo movement along three axes: longitudinal, transverse, and vertical. Physically, it consists of four movement mechanisms, namely front longitudinal, rear longitudinal, transverse, and vertical. An Arduino Mega 2560 serves as the main controller, while an infrared remote control issues movement commands. DC gear motors actuate the mechanisms through a two-stage relay circuit, and eight limit switches restrict travel at the mechanical boundaries. The system was evaluated through functional testing that focused on remote-control operation, cargo movement in the intended directions, and limit-switch operation. The results indicate that all four mechanisms responded according to the given commands and that the limit switches successfully halted the mechanisms when the defined boundaries were reached. The instrumentation also allows cargo positions to be represented as three-dimensional X, Y, and Z coordinates, which can subsequently serve as input for centre-of-gravity calculations. The system therefore provides a physical interface for controlled cargo distribution and supports the simulation and learning of the relationship between cargo distribution and ship stability.