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Hello,
I am in the ( albeit slow ) process of writing a relatively lean and quick data multiplexer and nmea-broadcaster as an option to SignalK.
I would need to know how the hat communicates with the system. Is there any documentation available for that?
Thank you!
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We do not use I2C for NMEA 0183/2000 or seatalk1 communication. I2C is used only for sensors and every sensors has its python script usually from adafruit libraries. pypilot is also using I2C to communicate with IMUs using its own scripts.
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2025-04-25, 03:21 PM
(This post was last modified: 2025-04-25, 03:22 PM by SailorMacSailface.)
Ah. I see. I was wondering as I had to configure Pypilot to get the ICM-20948 running.
So in that case the python scripts expose the functionality of the sensors to the system, as if the IMU would have been connected to the pi directly, correct?
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I am not sure I understand your question. pypilot processes IMU data and sends data to SK server by websocket. You can also get NMEA 0183 data from pypilot by TCP.
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Ah. Let me rephrase:
Apart from the power management feature the MacArthur hat comes with various serial ports and an I2C connector.
I assume that there is no special sauce required to make these work.
It is basically just a collection of regular open hardware on a single board, right?
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I guess the answer is yes. No firmware or micro present in the MacArthur HAT, just the necessary components to make the raspberry electrically compatible with our boats.