end of a worktable. It looks large enough to hold “Unlike the other systems [Winnebiko, et al.], several hundred sheets of 8.5x11 paper. This is which were really lifestyle choices, this is much the power supply he designed for the Wordplay. It more ‘grab and go,’” he says. “With Shacktopus, uses seven microprocessors to regulate and dis- I’m avoiding any more multi-year projects that tie tribute 600 watts. While the boat’s solar panels me to a specific bike or boat.” alone can provide 5 knots to move the craft, this He shows me the prototype for the Shack-power unit was also designed to enable the pilot topus, sitting on the same worktable where he to divert all power to the thrust for emergencies has the power supply box for the Wordplay. The (like quickly veering away from another boat). Shacktopus is essentially a clear plastic project
Roberts took the Wordplay on a 132-mile box with a medley of off-the-shelf communica-ride through Puget Sound in September 2001. tion and other computer components inside,
Though he still considers it to be in develop- bashed and interfaced together through a unified ment, the Microship Project has gone through control system designed by Roberts. There’s extended inactive periods over the years, as an HF/VHF/UHF transceiver; a GPS system; personal priorities for him shifted. environmental telemetry; internet access with
“When I started this ten years ago, I was wi-fi bridging; a lithium-ion battery power system perfectly pleased with the idea of taking out on that can be charged by a solar panel, automobile a canoe-sized hull, spending two years sleeping cigarette lighter, or AC outlet; speech synthe-in the bilge — it’s the size of a coffin. Now I’m 52, sis; audio recording; Bluetooth interfacing to a and I’m like, ‘I don’t want to be that uncomfort- notebook computer or PDA; and a deployable able for that long!’” he says, chuckling. antenna array from HF to 2.4GHz.
For something that’s supposed to help simplify
Project Shacktopus Roberts’ life, to free him from dealing with such
Along with a weakening tolerance for physical technically complicated projects as the Micro-
discomfort, Roberts has been wondering lately if ships, this early version of the Shacktopus itself
maybe he has spent too much time over the past already looks to be ... complex.
20 years designing machines and not enough of While it stems from the restlessness that has
it going out on actual adventures. He calls this been growing within its creator over the past few
consequence the “BEHEMOTH effect.” years, the Shacktopus also seems to represent
Thus, last year he decided to create an all- the same conundrum. Roberts came to the
in-one mobile communications pack, which he woods of Camano Island with what sounded like
named the Shacktopus. He plans to make it the a simple enough plan: build a boat and move on
size of a notebook computer, or small enough to to the next big adventure. This didn’t happen fast
fit into a messenger bag. It’s the first project of his enough. Apparently, it takes a long time to build a
that he hopes to turn into a commercial product. boat, at least the way Roberts likes to build one,
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