Arduino Projects For Your Boat

[BOAT]

In industrial automation you start with the drive units first. If your going to automate a bottle line or conveyor or batch plant they teach you to get all the big drive motors and pistons in place first and attach them to their full voltage starters, contactors, and VFD's - then - when you have a real world working system - you AUTOMATE it. (Put in a Programmable controller (PLC) and use it to manipulate the Variable Frequency Drives (VFD's) , relays, and definite purpose contactors.)

A Power Plant that makes electricity is a good example - an old fossil fuel power plant that was run by operators and a dozen people can be automated - but you start with a working power plant. The Program behind that kind of automation is called a SCADA

Captain Vic hooked up a motor to his wheel shaft first, then he manipulated the motor with a manual knob to make sure it could steer the boat. He went through a few different ones until he got just the right motor.

It's hard to program to a system that does not exist. This is why the ME and the Double E are on the job site long before the programmer. They are the ones the write the functional spec for the programmer.

When General Atomics asked me to provide a Fanuc PLC to turn submarine fuel into fish food they already had blueprints and all the mechanicals worked out and were already flashing that waste manually. They KNEW what the program needed to do down to the fine details.

Build a rudder controller and test it first. Without it - no autopilot.

[sailboatmike]

You could work that way Boat, or you could say, no point in seeing if the output works until you prove you can build the system to run the output.

Its all very much catch 22, both parts have to work in unisun, concept and proof of concept.

Very much chicken and egg stuff, sure no point building a system to turn submarine fuel into fish food until you prove it can be done, but on the other hand there is no point finding out if you can get the output (fish food)from the input (submarine fuel) until you work out if you can make the electronics and circuitry to complete the task.

[BOAT]

There was no question if the waste could be turned into cinder - they were already doing that - they did not wait for a program to do it - they were already doing it manually.

Same for running the power plant - they were already doing it except people were pushing the buttons instead of a computer.

Same for programming - I don't think there is any question that a program can be written to control the rudder. The part of the system that makes the decisions is already there: 'the computer' and the program can be written as needed.

All the components for a AP are already there - the computer, the program environment, the sensing devices etc . . there is one part missing.

The part of the system that does not exist yet is the part that actually turns the rudder - without that - there will be no system. I think that is the part that is in question - it's the first problem that needs to be solved because it IS the part that you have not solved yet. I can tell you from experience that it is the hardest part of the problem to solve. It's not a "catch 22" - it's a "dead end" until that issue is resolved.

Have you decided on a piston or a motor yet?

[Neo]

Honestly BOAT it really sounds like you should be joining both Mike and myself in these projects

I believe that once you've confirmed the building blocks will work together you can do Mechanicals, Hardware and software all at the same time. My situation requires much more custom mechanics (motor setup) but most people could use an actuator and that not hard to drive or monitor with Arduino.
For me this project is a "day and night thing". I can play with Arduino hardware/software at night and I can play with the Mechanicals during the day .... It's a perfect project that keeps me away from that brain-dead-TV box!!

It's a small world BOAT ... The PO for my Mac was SCADA Engineer. I have met many because I used to sell IEC61850 (the eventual replacement for SCADA) protocol analyzers.... Those days are long gone, thank god!

So how about it BOAT .... Will you join us?

[sailboatmike]

Captain Vic hooked up a motor to his wheel shaft first, then he manipulated the motor with a manual knob to make sure it could steer the boat. He went through a few different ones until he got just the right motor.

You have already answered the question for "the missing part" of the equation

There is no reason this system can't be done.

Raymarine used much the same system on their Sport and wheel pilot system (I have a old Sport pilot I'm just about to pull apart) that drives from the keyway in the steering axle.

Its hardly rocket science, its turning a wheel on a boat, not sure about yours but I can turn my wheel with one finger and very little force even with the 75Hp hanging off the back.

I will make some video and put it on my youtube channel when I have a spare moment, number one priority at the moment is getting through the last week of summer school holidays with 3 kids at home and finishing off my little sailing dinghy, the Arduino stuff only happens after about 10pm when the kids are tucked up in bed and the laquer on the boat is drying.

[BOAT]

I think a lot of people want a wheel pilot that fits in the pedestal. I want to see a control system that fits inside the pedestal - I have been asking to see it for 5 years. I can get a bagel pilot with belts and pulleys off the shelf right now - that's why I put in a tiller pilot in the first place - because I did not want all that crap hanging off my helm. If the AP does not fit inside the pedestal I'm really not interested. That's why i keep asking the question.

[Neo]

I think a lot of people want a wheel pilot that fits in the pedestal.

I'm told these a very noisy and the constant buzz brurrr drives you nuts

I want to see a control system that fits inside the pedestal

Me too ... also where it should be mechanically easier to disengage, if need be.

I can get a bagel pilot with belts and pulleys off the shelf right now

Do you have any info on that?

[sailboatmike]

I think a lot of people want a wheel pilot that fits in the pedestal. I want to see a control system that fits inside the pedestal - I have been asking to see it for 5 years. I can get a bagel pilot with belts and pulleys off the shelf right now - that's why I put in a tiller pilot in the first place - because I did not want all that crap hanging off my helm. If the AP does not fit inside the pedestal I'm really not interested. That's why i keep asking the question.

Well here is your opportunity to become part of the project, we have a few on board, but different minds problem solve in different ways and different people have different wants / needs.

Always happy to have new ideas from people with or without experience in the area.

I have found in life that sometimes people without experience don't bring in preconceived ideas so may have a simpler point of view and as is a well proven, complexity brings in extra potential problems. while experienced people bring in a wealth of knowledge and can draw on previous experience to work around issues.

Happy to have you aboard Boat

[Neo]

I second that Mike .... and if I remember right BOAT you did a very smart job of ball and socket quick release in on your rudder cable??

For my Dual Cable setup I've realised that I could potentially disengage the OB cable (at the OB) making rudder steering Soooo much lighter! Then I could use a long stroke Linear Actuator (or a Guided Rail Linear Actuator System https://goo.gl/P9fYzZ) Travel below deck. And use BOAT's idea of a quick release / lift-out-ball-in-socket to engage or disengage the Actuator. The Arduino could also detect the "ball-over-socket" prior to engage or disengagement

Gate opening system also use powerful Linear Actuators already IP67 rated!

.... I'm getting excited!!!!

[Neo]

I know I'm way behind you Mike but I've covered lesson 3 and I've just placed my order for the Arduino kit you specified.... And there's me thinking that my days of messing around with electronics was over ...Wish me luck

[sailboatmike]

Your not way behind me Neo, I have done lesson 3 but have not done anything for the last couple of days.

I just think about things when Im doing tedious jobs, it makes the job go faster and spend plenty of time doing research on the net.

The net is a huge resource, and while you cant believe all you read and see there is plenty of second opinions to verify what is said and done.

YouTube has been great, I just do a search for Arduino projects, filter out the rubbish and check out the ones that may be of use

[Neo]

YouTube has been great, I just do a search for Arduino projects, filter out the rubbish and check out the ones that may be of use

Yep, have watched many so far.... But isn't Youtube amazing!!... I'm sure I'll see a video of "How to build a rocket to mars from a wheelie bin" one day

[sailboatmike]

When I have been stuck on almost any project the first resource is always youtube, someone will have done it and videoed it, as I have said before my learning style is more visual, so watching and learning works for me.

[Neo]

my learning style is more visual, so watching and learning works for me.

Me too Mike!

Just watched lesson 4. It's Ok but getting harder to remember the code functions. So now I really need my own Nano to play with and program my brain with ..... Might postpone lesson 5 until I get my kit.

[sailboatmike]

Just watched lesson 4. It's Ok but getting harder to remember the code functions. So now I really need my own Nano to play with and program my brain with ..... Might postpone lesson 5 until I get my kit.

Excellent idea, much easier when you are actually building the project with him, while they are very simple still, you get to play with the code and see the differences when you make changes.

Hope to put a hour aside tonight to do lesson 4, I'm amazed at how much has sunk in, but it is very much like basic I used to program in