Building your own Chartplotter with AIS, Radar, & Autopilot Matt Brown

So who the #&^*!$ is Matt Brown• Been coding since 1983

• Attended Pacific Lutheran University • Majoring in Earth Sciences and Computer Sciences• Minor in Mathematics

• Professional Software Developer since 1994

• “Real” Boat owner since 1998

• https://mvcesc.files.wordpress.com

• Self-described maker and tinkerer

No really, who is he?That guy!

So why are we here?

What the #&^*!$ was that?• Hardware

• Raspberry Pi 2• “Puck” style GPS• dAISy AIS receiver from Adrian Studer• Television

• Software• Raspbian OS and Debian packages• OpenCPN chartplotter and navigation software• NOAA Charts• RaspBMC

No. Really. What the #&^*!$ was that?• An extendable chartplotter

• GPS Location• AIS targets

Can’t I just buy something and put it on my boat?• Of course you can

• Simrad• NSS9 $4,198• NSS8 Sport $2,100

• Raymarine• A78 $2,299

• Garmin • 92sv $1,999

• This system• Around $500

Can’t I just buy something and put it on my boat?• Hardware

• Raspberry Pi 2 $35• “Puck” style GPS $40• dAISy AIS receiver from Adrian Studer $55• Keyboard, USB Wifi modules, Cables, case, etc $50• Television $100 - $300

• Software• Raspbian OS and Debian packages - Free• OpenCPN chartplotter and navigation software - Free• NOAA Charts - Free• RaspBMC - Free

About the Raspberry Pi• It’s a credit card sized computer, that plugs into a TV

(HDMI), designed to teach kids how to program

• Well supported by online community

• Now used by hobbyists as well as professional engineers to build integrated systems

• Latest version• 900Mhz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU• 1GB SDRAM• 1080p HDMI video (VideoCore IV 3D graphics core)• Micro SD card slot

• Equivalent to a top of the line desktop computer circa 2004

Alternative SOCs to the Raspberry Pi• Banana Pi $45

• 1Ghz dual core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU• Mali-400 MP2 GPU• 1GB DDR3

• CubieTruck $85• 1Ghz dual core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU• Mali-400 MP2 GPU• 2GB DDR3, 8GB NAND flash + microSD slot• Onboard Wifi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, 2 USB ports

• Beaglebone $60• 1Ghz ARM Cortex-A8 CPU• PowerVR SGX 2D/3D GPU supporting dual displays

Alternatives to the Raspberry Pi• iPad $500

• 64bit A8x CPU• 10” screen• Bluetooth GPS receiver ~$70• Navionics Navigation Suite $10-$149

• Laptop $300+• Specs vary• USB or Bluetooth GPS receiver • OpenCPN capable

• Android devices $100+• Specs vary• May need Bluetooth GPS receiver ~$70• Navionics Navigation Suite $10-$149

What Does It Do?

Chartplotter GPS Location

What Does It Do?

Weather Overlay AIS Data

What Does It Do?

Ships & Maintenance Log Route Planning

What Else Can It Do?

Autopilot Radar Overlay

What else can it do?• Fishfinder

• Simple Computer• Web browser• Email client• Basic business apps• Messaging Apps

• Movie and Music Player

• Camera System

Building the System

Building the System• Complete step-by-step instructions at

https://mvcesc.wordpress.com/2013/09/20/detailed-raspberry-pi-setup-documentation/

• Download OS Image from the internet

• Burn OS image to micro SD Card

• Install SD Card, Keyboard, Mouse, HDMI Cable, USB GPS, USB AIS

• Boot• Expand File System• Set to US • Boot to desktop• Reboot

Building the System• Connect to Internet

• Ethernet• WiFi

• Update and upgrade• sudo apt-get update• sudo apt-get upgrade

• Install Tools• geany• mesa-utils• git-core cmake • gpsd gpsd-clients

Building the System• Download charts from NOAA

• Raster (RNC) vs Vector (ENC)

• Pull code down from the internet• git clone

• Compile and Install• cmake, make

• Run and add charts• -unit_test_1

• Install additional plugins• Watchdog• Logbook

AIS• dAISy module from Adrian Struder - $55

• https://github.com/astuder/dAISy

• Channel hops between A (161.975 MHz) and B (162.025 MHz)

• Serial data stream (9600/8/N/1)• NMEA 0183 sentences (AIVDM)• !AIVDM,1,1,,A,1CF4kT3000Nm`Kl@BHKJC@IH0000,0*37

!AIVDM,1,1,,B,4028jOQur1laeNlMIL@<`8O00@JU,0*5F

• OpenCPN• AIS compatible, simply open serial data connection in settings to

receive information

AIS

Xbee modules• Create a wireless mesh network between devices

• Satellite screens• Share NMEA data (GPS, AIS, Radar) from the main chartplotter

• Sensors• Wind• Weather• Temperature

• Autopilot Control (planned)

Fully Functional Chartplotter System

Show & Tell

Q & A