Hi
Ive been tasked with developing an electronics system suited for an sailboat to read data from GPS, an ultrasonic windsensor and compass
Im wondering what my options are for the micro controller of the system?
Online im seeing that it can be done with an arduino, but is there any advice on designing a PCB board with a PIC? and using this with an FPGA?
Is that an option? and If so could you point me in the right direction?
Thanks in advance

 

So is there already established outputs from the GPS, Wind sensor and Compass?
If so you need the protocol.
Max.

 

So is there already established outputs from the GPS, Wind sensor and Compass?
If so you need the protocol.
Max.

Not yet, but i have a standard i have to go off of, its called NMEA2000 standard, and it says its in accordance with SAE J1939 protocol

 

Hi
Ive been tasked with developing an electronics system suited for an sailboat to read data from GPS, an ultrasonic windsensor and compass
Im wondering what my options are for the micro controller of the system?
Online im seeing that it can be done with an arduino, but is there any advice on designing a PCB board with a PIC? and using this with an FPGA?
Is that an option? and If so could you point me in the right direction?
Thanks in advance

These devices already talk to one another. At least ones manufactured in the past 10-20 years. What are you planning on doing that the experts have not already done? The marine enviroment can be very harsh to electronics. Boats can be very noisy when under motor. Then there is the salt air. Even a boat in fresh water can be problematic. It isn't going to be an easy task designing something reliable.


What makes you think you need a FPGA? You should be able to get all of these devices to talk with just a pic and a Max232. It has been a very long time since I worked with NMEA but as I recall each device is addressable so you should be able to do multi drop. Worst case you get a pic with multiple serial peripherals.

I would not be surprised if the newer devices now had bluetooth or wifi so you could avoid wiring altogether

But I would probably just buy instruments that already are compatible with one another, let the experts in the field make them talk and call it a day.

 

Please try to use a more descriptive title rather than "What are my options?"
A title such as "Data recorder for sailboat" conveys much more information.

 

Title fixed.

 

Basically, almost any modern microcontroller with enough memory will do. Not sure why you mentioned FPGA - that is vast overkill for what is essentially a logging application.

I'd start with your sensors and understand what is needed to interface to them. I'd look at where the sensors need to be placed and how they would connect with the controller. Then I'd look at usage scenarios. Do you need a display? Removable memory card? How will the data be used? In all this I'd be looking to make sure the components were protected from water and mechanical shock.

Should you design your own PCB? That's up to you and should include an assessment of your strengths.

 

There is an assumption being made that the TS wants to log data. The TS never made such a point simply "read data" which can mean almost anything.

 

Hi
Ive been tasked with developing an electronics system suited for an sailboat to read data from GPS, an ultrasonic windsensor and compass
Im wondering what my options are for the micro controller of the system?
Online im seeing that it can be done with an arduino, but is there any advice on designing a PCB board with a PIC? and using this with an FPGA?
Is that an option? and If so could you point me in the right direction?
Thanks in advance

I build one a couple of years ago and added an alarm to it as well.
For the logging use a FTDI VNC2 you can buy them as chip or as complete board plus progger( 70 Euro approx. 90$).
FTDI C compiler free of charge.
The GPS info from your nav system or a GPS chip (20$ approx.)

The only thing you have to do is a power supply ship voltage to board.
To combine with GSM add a SIM900 or equivalent.
All controlled by this FTDI thing.

However if you need supper low power (sleep till alarm) should add a PIC using sleep mode ( < 10 micro amp from pwr supply 12-16V in to 3v3).

PIC Buster

 

Thanks for the replies
Data from these sensors will act as inputs to a c program, this c program will govern the rudder and sail angles of the sailboat,
Bit over my head with the hardware side of things, is there a reference pic controller board design ? Sorry about the time late reply I'm definitely the other side of the globe for those who replied

 

Thanks for the replies
Data from these sensors will act as inputs to a c program, this c program will govern the rudder and sail angles of the sailboat,
Bit over my head with the hardware side of things, is there a reference pic controller board design ? Sorry about the time late reply I'm definitely the other side of the globe for those who replied

Why would you want to do this? There are many auto pilots on the market that have been time tested. They will do everything that you want.

If you want to control sail trim then that means the boat must already have electric winches. Any sailboat with electric winches is going to be in the 100s of thousands of dollars. I would never trust my boat to be piloted by a system designed by a friend (or even one I designed myself for my boat, assuming I could afford the hardware).

Controlling the rudder is going to be hard enough. Controlling sail trim would be extremely complex. Way to many variables. For human to do that is a seasoned sailor the inputs are intuitive. To have a computer do it is a whole other matter. I can't imagine trying to design such a thing without years of research, trail and error.

 

Complex as spinnaker stated before: to sail high into the wind information about wave height and air- water temperature will also play a roll.
30 degree air gale six produce less power than 10 degree air resulting in a larger leeway at high temperature.
The salt content will effect the waterline length ( upwards lift is depending on shape of hull, density of salt water and will effect the waterline therewith the hull speed.) see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hull_speed for a simple explanation.
Water heights, currents and moon are easy to calculate at any location on earth.

Conclusion: Yes what you want is possible but complex and not finished in a few hours using an Arduino.
I thing that it is better to go for a ready of the shelf system.

Picbuster