Boat Intelligent GPS Navigation and Video Monitor System

[waveless]

Boat Intelligent GPS Navigation and Video Monitor System

Using “Boat intelligent GPS Navigation and Video Monitor System”, you only need to tell the computer where to go, it will automatically drive the boat to the destination, and then wake you up.

Using two high-resolution video camera, every 3 second make a picture at the front pass of the boat, the computer can process the picture within a second, and report the result,

1, Is there any obstruction in front pass,
2, how big is the obstruction,
3, how much obstructions have been found,
3, what the color of the obstruction,
4, how far it is,
5, at left or right side of the boat,

Then the computer will make the decision,

1, alarm,
2, turn left or right,
3, stop the boat,
4, wake up the boss.

If you like to do this project, I am the best choice. I am the specialist for image process and video codec.

[waveless]

I am the joblosser, one year can't find a job. this is reary a degenerate world!

[Sander Rave]

I guess you have been working on the system of the tommahawks too?
Maybe if you combine two of your projects, the High-Speed Jet Propeller and this one, maybe the US airfoce will be interested

[Corpus Skipper]

We can make the boat drive it's self, mount some web cams all around linked through the sat phone, send the bugger off to the islands and enjoy(?) it all from the living room. What's the point? I'll drive myself, thanks.

[waveless]

We can make the boat drive it's self, mount some web cams all around linked through the sat phone, send the bugger off to the islands and enjoy(?) it all from the living room. What's the point? I'll drive myself, thanks.
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It's not interest, take care when you go to WC!

[JonathanCole]

Hi Waveless,

I take it you are a computer programmer? What is your background.

I want to use GPS to allow my electric catamaran to maintain station without an anchor. It will have 2 electric drives, amidships, one fore and one aft with an effective 360 degree rotation (180 degree turning plus instant reverse) on the drives for precise maneuverability. Any ideas on how to accomplish that?

JC

[gonzo]

The boat may be intelligent, but the master isn't. I've been on boats and ships where I had a visual on a small boat or obstruction that didn't show on radar or doppler. I don't let any equipment do the thinking for me.

[Leo Lazauskas]

Originally Posted by gonzo

The boat may be intelligent, but the master isn't. I've been on boats and ships where I had a visual on a small boat or obstruction that didn't show on radar or doppler. I don't let any equipment do the thinking for me.

My recent interest has been in large sealift vessels that travel at 50 knots to 100 knots. I'd hate to see those operated on auto-pilot!

[waveless]

The boat may be intelligent, but the master isn't. I've been on boats and ships where I had a visual on a small boat or obstruction that didn't show on radar or doppler. I don't let any equipment do the thinking for me.
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Are you afraid that you will lost your job?

[waveless]

Jonathancole,

Your project is not difficult. Using a computer and a GPS card, the software can calculate the direction and distance of destination, then control step motor to turn the direction of the electric drive towards the destination. If you want to keep the direction of the catamaran, you need to send direction information to the computer, then the computer changes the direction of the boat. The electric drive can fix at the front of the boat. One electric drive is enough to keep the station.

[taobsu]

Originally Posted by JonathanCole

......

I want to use GPS to allow my electric catamaran to maintain station without an anchor. It will have 2 electric drives, amidships, one fore and one aft with an effective 360 degree rotation (180 degree turning plus instant reverse) on the drives for precise maneuverability. Any ideas on how to accomplish that?

JC

Part of your question is about the same I raised in another thred: "autopilot system for sailboat" . With electric drives it should be relatively doable for navigating through predetermind course .

But to avoid objects (even low speed object) will be tough. The key part is image process which can detect object and determine its distance and speed. You might be able to find one existed image process project from a university. I am sure such project existed somewhere.

[Tim B]

Holding station is quite easy. I have also been looking at this sort of job. (Well, computer-based navigation and systems readout and control). The whole job can be done on a modern laptop with a serial and parallel port. All you need is a GPS unit which will output NMEA data to the computer and a load of relays (and driver circuits) hung off the parallel port.

So far, I have been using RISC-OS computers for their low cost second-hand) and low power consumption. I haven't tried getting NMEA data into a PC (Win/Mac/Linux) but I suspect a quick browse on the web will show a few examples.
The important thing is to know where the boat is and which way it is pointing.

If you intend to do this, you will need to know BASIC-V (and the OS calls) for the RISC-OS platform. and C or C++ for anything else.

Cheers,
Tim Brocklehurst

[JonathanCole]

Hi Tim,

Can an electronic compass be had that will provide directional data for the PC?

While it is true that unattended operation for any automated/powered propulsion has risks, I think that a station keeping or even pattern holding would not require to much speed. You probably would want deflectors in front of props or perhaps obstruction sensors that could reduce power in advance of impacts. In many places it is not allowed to anchor (sea bottom scarring and disruption) or set a mooring and the availability and cost of slips is very prohibitive. If reliable station keeping could be achieved affordably it might be come in very handy in many instances.

By the way, I was unable to access your web site. Is it down or is there a misprint in the provided address?

Aloha,

Jon

[waveless]

Yes, there are many products that GPS, compass, speed, air presure are integrated in a PDA.

[D'ARTOIS]

Waveless,

You must be aware that none of the gentlemen that have replied to your thread do have any idea about ship's traffic here in our part of the world.

Probably they never have sailed single handed the Dover Straits, or our part of the North Sea. Not at all they are aware of the heavy fines, insituted by the coastguards, either in France or in the UK, when you obstruct the on- going traffic in he Channel.

Tankers, Bulkcarriers, Fishing vessels, Coasters and dozens of Ferry-ships make he North Sea and the Channel a dangerous play-pen for the non-prof salor - who lacks the electronic gear to get warned in time.

For those non-prof sailors there is only one solution: get some people on the watch who know what they are doing, or you should yourself stay awake for the duration of your passage through the Channel. (2-3 days) without sleep.

That's one.

Neither they are aware of the tricky's along the French coast, not only the severe ship's traffic but also the many obstructions by way of rocks and small
islands, mostly not equipped with lighting or a lighthouse, think at f.i. the Minquiers - one of the biggest graveyards along the French coast.

I am sure that there are particular companies that might welcome your knowledge and /or insight. Be it in the Military field, or related ones. You have to know where to look!