remote boatimu

[ironman]

How could I make pypilot use the imu data of a remote boatimu? pypilot_boatimu seems to ignore ~/.pypilot/pypilot_client.conf

I have my tinypilot built into a tiller pilot, including the imu, but when the tiller pilot is not in position, it seems the calibration gets messed up, despite locking the calibration when I swing it out of position. I want to replace my boat's commercial electronic compass anyway with an additional tinypilot connecting to openplotter's signalk database. So it would be great if my autopilot-pypilot could use the IMU data from that additional boatimu. 

Thx!

[guyh2]

This is something I am very interested in as I want to split off the IMU from the auto pilot - primarily for redundancy and the ability to perhaps in the future build one of the ZED-F9 GNSS modules capable of millimetre 3D-fixes & RPY & heading accuracy that is just mind-blowing.

Looking at the code, it's not straightforward but it is possible - I'm still learning Python as all my previous programming (inc a drone IMU) has been with C & AVR Assembler

[seandepagnier]

I don't think using a remote imu is a good idea or intended because of the lag between reading the sensors and reacting with the motor.


Instead, consider fixing a tinypilot to the boat in a good location (not inside tillerpilot) Then use a remote on the tiller pilot. The options for a remote:

1) 433mhz remote. I have built and have the source code and schematic for this. You can use universal 433mhz remotes
2) wifi remote. based on esp32 this gives the same display as the tinypilot with configuration abilities but connects over wifi. I have two size screens working, these are ttgo display variety
3) tinypilot in remote mode. You can use a second tinypilot and connect to the wifi of the master tinypilot. This gives the same function as #2, but is higher cost because a raspberry pi is used instead of esp32. The advantage is, it could be a backup if the primary fails if you have inertial sensors, otherwise you do not need inertial sensors for this pi.

[ironman]

I don't think using a remote imu is a good idea or intended because of the lag between reading the sensors and reacting with the motor.

Still, it's what I want to try; if the IMU refresh rate is 100ms I don't mind losing a few millisecs on wifi pingtime. I think I can get boatimu connect to a remote pypilot through configuration of pypilot_client.conf and similar changes (below), but I can't test it now yet. I'll let you know the results, positive or negative. 

Code:

pi@openplotter:/usr/local/lib/python3.7/dist-packages/pypilot-0.23-py3.7-linux-armv7l.egg/pypilot $ diff ~/pypilot/pypilot boatimu.py
37,39c38,42
<         self.client = pypilotClient(server)
<         self.multiprocessing = server.multiprocessing
<         if self.multiprocessing:
---
>         self.client = pypilotClient()
>         #self.multiprocessing = server.multiprocessing
>         if False:
310c313
<         if True:
---
>         if False:
316c319,320
<         self.client = pypilotClient(server)
---
>         self.client = pypilotClient()
342c346,347
<         self.auto_cal = AutomaticCalibrationProcess(client.server)
---
>         self.auto_cal = AutomaticCalibrationProcess(client)
365c370
<         self.imu = IMU(client.server)
---
>         self.imu = IMU(client)
386c391,392
<         if self.imu.multiprocessing:
---
>         if False:
396c402,403
<         if not self.imu.multiprocessing:
---
>         if False:
516c523,524
<     client = pypilotClient(server)
---
>     client = pypilotClient()

[seandepagnier]

Still, it's what I want to try; if the IMU refresh rate is 100ms I don't mind losing a few millisecs on wifi pingtime.

It isn't deterministic. You do not have guarenteed latency. So unless you use a dedicated wireless link (not using raspberry wifi at all) for this, you may end up with something that works most of the time but occasionally does not react. I have seen wifi on raspberry link get stalled up to a few seconds.


If you want a wireless link somewhere between the imu sensors and the motor moving the rudder it needs dedicated link, either two esp32, or some other rf link that does not use linux wifi/bluetooth stack.

[ironman]

Ok that's a very clear and convincing argument. Thx.

This ideosyncretic idea stems from my requirement to have a pypilot that is 100% interchangeable with my backup, commercial tiller pilot, both electrically and UI-wise. If pypilot would fail, i simply swap it. This has not happened over the last year, which is testament to the design! The remote imu idea is an attempt to optimise that concept, because an imu that regularly swings out of position is hard to properly calibrate.

[andrewAB]

Hi Sean
Are you selling the esp32 WiFi remotes?

Thanks
Andrew

[seandepagnier]

Hi Sean
Are you selling the esp32 WiFi remotes?

Thanks
Andrew

not yet but I support two different ttgo designs which have lcd displays