The reason for opening this thread is to let you know that Tehani and I are developing a very low-cost autopilot.
The idea came about because our pilots are years old. On the other hand Ray's mine also has a tendency to sulphate the tracks of the electronic circuit. So before we come up with a cost of a few thousand euros to replace the one we have, we've decided to develop our own pilot whose final cost does not embezzle our coffers.
There is enough work already advanced, as I will comment later. We want to share this project with you, because we believe that there will be more people interested in this project that can take advantage of it. On the other hand, we see a contribution of ideas, as happened and happens with the OpenPlotter project. After all, one of the ideas is to be fully compatible with OpenPlotter and OpenCPN. But also that it can be used with other commercial plotters.
The compatibility with OpenPlotter we want it to be Plug and Play, so that it does not suppose an added effort to the installation of openplotter and its peripherals.
It will be equipped with its proper Gyrocompas / GPS. It is already developed and is separated from the pilot, to be able to place it in the optimal point of our boat, out of magnetic influences and in centre line. The compass will automatically adjust to the declination of the area where we are sailing, in such a way that between the different courses we will also have the real course. This gyrocompass includes the famous Kalman filter, which guarantees more reliable data and more speed.
Compatibility with all standards such as SeaTalk, NMEA183 and NMEA2000 or N2K, is obtained with a converter that can even function as a multiplexer / gateway if you have different systems coexisting. This step is already done. We are studying the possibility of including SignalK in it. But we have to analyze if it is going to suppose a reduction of the speed of calculation that reduces the response of the system. This is a point to discuss and negotiate.
Regarding the central one, it will probably have a more powerful processor than the ones used by commercials, with inputs for different sensors, such as for example, the rudder angle or motor navigation. N2K sensors, e.g. wind, can be connected without problems.
It could be discussed whether to use another type of cheaper analogue wind sensors.
Or if there is interest in making a pulse output for the existing speed displays on the boat.
In the programming of the central we will introduce "artificial intelligence", so that it has learning capacity and can better handle any direction with respect to the wind and the direction of the waves as well as sea state and meteorological conditions. And also for rescue operations (MOB).
As you can see it is an ambitious project. We have given ourselves time until the end of this year to complete the first operational version. That's why we count on you and your ideas for its development. Updating the software will be very easy using any mobile phone and without special programs.
Regarding the compatibility with commercial systems, we could start with a small survey and tell us which autopilot you have on the boat now and change which one you would put.
In next post we will be expanding our ideas and integrations that we are doing with yours.
We need to complete the specifications of this autopilot as soon as possible, because that depends on the design and manufacture of the circuit of the pilot.
This project has a considerable magnitude, a lot of effort and many hours of engineering work. That's why we need to know if you find it interesting or not and also if the fixed costs could be covered.
So from now on, it moves from being our private project to being everyone's project.
The idea came about because our pilots are years old. On the other hand Ray's mine also has a tendency to sulphate the tracks of the electronic circuit. So before we come up with a cost of a few thousand euros to replace the one we have, we've decided to develop our own pilot whose final cost does not embezzle our coffers.
There is enough work already advanced, as I will comment later. We want to share this project with you, because we believe that there will be more people interested in this project that can take advantage of it. On the other hand, we see a contribution of ideas, as happened and happens with the OpenPlotter project. After all, one of the ideas is to be fully compatible with OpenPlotter and OpenCPN. But also that it can be used with other commercial plotters.
The compatibility with OpenPlotter we want it to be Plug and Play, so that it does not suppose an added effort to the installation of openplotter and its peripherals.
It will be equipped with its proper Gyrocompas / GPS. It is already developed and is separated from the pilot, to be able to place it in the optimal point of our boat, out of magnetic influences and in centre line. The compass will automatically adjust to the declination of the area where we are sailing, in such a way that between the different courses we will also have the real course. This gyrocompass includes the famous Kalman filter, which guarantees more reliable data and more speed.
Compatibility with all standards such as SeaTalk, NMEA183 and NMEA2000 or N2K, is obtained with a converter that can even function as a multiplexer / gateway if you have different systems coexisting. This step is already done. We are studying the possibility of including SignalK in it. But we have to analyze if it is going to suppose a reduction of the speed of calculation that reduces the response of the system. This is a point to discuss and negotiate.
Regarding the central one, it will probably have a more powerful processor than the ones used by commercials, with inputs for different sensors, such as for example, the rudder angle or motor navigation. N2K sensors, e.g. wind, can be connected without problems.
It could be discussed whether to use another type of cheaper analogue wind sensors.
Or if there is interest in making a pulse output for the existing speed displays on the boat.
In the programming of the central we will introduce "artificial intelligence", so that it has learning capacity and can better handle any direction with respect to the wind and the direction of the waves as well as sea state and meteorological conditions. And also for rescue operations (MOB).
As you can see it is an ambitious project. We have given ourselves time until the end of this year to complete the first operational version. That's why we count on you and your ideas for its development. Updating the software will be very easy using any mobile phone and without special programs.
Regarding the compatibility with commercial systems, we could start with a small survey and tell us which autopilot you have on the boat now and change which one you would put.
In next post we will be expanding our ideas and integrations that we are doing with yours.
We need to complete the specifications of this autopilot as soon as possible, because that depends on the design and manufacture of the circuit of the pilot.
This project has a considerable magnitude, a lot of effort and many hours of engineering work. That's why we need to know if you find it interesting or not and also if the fixed costs could be covered.
So from now on, it moves from being our private project to being everyone's project.