Autopilot remote control - wifi & tablet / ipad

[rogerthebodger]

I started to make up a series of remote controls for various items onboard.

I got most of the operations using standard remote control fobs and the receivers. I even made up a IP65 box with all the buttons.

The steering I did by using relays driving the autopilot motor directly but found that the delay when the control button was released we too long to give precise operation. I was considering adding a helm center button but have not got round to it yet. One other improvement would be on pressing the starboard or port button to move the helm sey 5 degrees then stop even if the button is still pressed until released then pressed again.

I also did not get round to figure out the engine /gearbox controls. maybe have separate forward and astern buttons and a separate throttle control buttons again with push and release operation.

 

[prv]

Arduino board isn't an ideal choice for the handset application - overkill, too big, too power hungry & much more expensive.

Is there really that much difference between an arduino and a pic? The ones I bought are postage-stamp size (17mm x 34mm, from memory) and cost £2 each as assembled boards. That's small and cheap enough for me to build into anything, but a work colleague who's more into this stuff says he develops on the full-size "shield" version and then blows the finished code into a bare DIP chip which just needs a crystal and a couple of capacitors to form the finished item.

I've no idea how the power consumption compares, but how much difference can there be between micro controllers of similar size and capability?

Pete

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Is there really that much difference between an arduino and a pic? The ones I bought are postage-stamp size (17mm x 34mm, from memory) and cost £2 each as assembled boards. That's small and cheap enough for me to build into anything, but a work colleague who's more into this stuff says he develops on the full-size "shield" version and then blows the finished code into a bare DIP chip which just needs a crystal and a couple of capacitors to form the finished item.

I've no idea how the power consumption compares, but how much difference can there be between micro controllers of similar size and capability?

Pete

The difference is not in the processors, it's in how they are programmed. Arduino boards are usually via their special language and IDE. This provides an abstraction of the hardware which makes it easy for the beginners but is much less useful if trying to write software for an ultra low power device. To do that intimate access to the hardware is required without the overheads of the abstraction layer.

As an Arduino is not being used for the battery powered handset it doesn't matter.

 

[osteo999]

I made a Seatalk autopilot wireless remote. I used it all summer & it worked fine but in the end I went back to the wired one. The problem with the remote one was I kept on putting it down & losing it or sitting on it & doing unintentional tacks. It was PIC based & much smaller & cheaper than an Arduino one would be.

Base station on the left, handset on the right. Combined cost about £20. Batteries would last years as the remote handset went into sleep mode until a button pressed taking the current consumption from the batteries down tothe sub-microAmp range. Small RF daughter boards on each end, 60p each (15m range), 18F processor, proper Seatalk collision avoidance at the base station end.

An Arduino board isn't an ideal choice for the handset application - overkill, too big, too power hungry & much more expensive.

I only made the 1. Couldn't be bothered to make any more but I still have plenty of PCB's.

Is this item still available - I am interested
many thanks

 

[Spyro]

You can buy a 4 channel wireless receiver with 2 key fob remotes on eBay for less than £10 could you adapt it for your auto helm? I fitted one in my tiller pilot
It could also be wired externally but the was room inside the st2000 with a bit of fettling

Wired up to the auto/standby and +10 / -10 degree buttons.

 

[osteo999]

much appreciated - exquisitely simple solution (Raymarine ST1000+) - the 3rd party options out there run to £2-300 - ebay was out of stock - bought on Amazon £8.95- this can now go with a remote 'kill switch' for the outboard for single handed getting on a swinging mooring

 

[Pagetslady]

I have one of these which works very well best feature is the auto tack when racing solo https://www.i3dgear.com/online-stor...ymarine-Autohelm-SeaTalk-Autopilots-p79308473.
Mike