Build: Bluecoats Adventure on the High Seas

I wanted to do something unique, so I decided to combine Pirates, robotics & trains to make a motorized ship that could actually fire & sail the high seas! Not only does it travel on the tracks (er, I mean on the ocean waters), it also uses ultrasonic sensors on each side to watch out for dangers. Once an enemy is spotted, a rolling broadside is launched. Check it out in action here: 

This project was a blast to design & build! I used my NXT brick since I can't afford the latest & greatest Mindstorms versions (please be understanding judges). Other ship internals include a 9 volt motor for the wheels, 2 NXT motors to fire cannons and 2 ultrasonic sensors. The broadside fires by worm gears and short technic liftarms to pull then release a rod under tension from black rubber bands. The exterior cleverly covers the robotic heart of the ship because I wanted to make it indistinguishable from a normal Pirates style tall ship. Thanks for checking out my creation!