cheaper large instrument displays - mast mount

Ok...My order is so far looking like this

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/proce...46973636F766572792673633D592677633D4E4F4E4526

And the display this display

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/lcd-d...2267573743D3533322D373232312677633D4E4F4E4526

Just over £40 all in, I guess buttons, power supply and housing required...anything else?

I am looking forward to getting started on this, the trip to the boats how on Sunday now has a very different light, I think I will be spending a chunk of time analysing the large mast displays on the market ;)

Anyone else still up for further progress on this ?
 
An ARM Cortex-M4 will do the job, but it is overpowered and over-featured for this application. This would do...

http://uk.farnell.com/stmicroelectronics/stm32vldiscovery/stm32-value-line-discovery-kit/dp/2118806

and maybe even this...

http://uk.farnell.com/stmicroelectronics/stm32f0discovery/eval-board-cortex-m0-stm32f0/dp/2096251

I know that at this stage there is only a few £ difference, but if you ever get as far as making a number using your own PCB's, then the M0 chips will be considerably cheaper than the M4. The dev boards are sold at an unrealistic low price. You are not allowed to use them in products that are sold.
 
I am still very interested, But as with many people I have now where near the tech know how being displayed, I have played around with computers but this is much more detailed! Can someone be as good as to make an idiots guide, basic shopping list etc.
 
The a3, the first one on the list looks reasonable (and component prices look ok)


Order now looks like this

http://uk.farnell.com/stmicroelectronics/stm32vldiscovery/stm32-value-line-discovery-kit/dp/2118806

And the screen in my previous post

Housing is pretty much sorted, currently playing with some designs before I post them, it would be good to get the components first though..

Now understand bonded screens and have found a cheap ish way to do that

I have a supplier for pcbs who can do a run of 10 and can also fit compenents to the pcb. Just got to work out how the heck to design the pcb

Embedded is such a new world, but fascinating :-) ,with enough interest and after some prototyping It does seem feasible at the moment to make a run of 10 units and still come in well priced, it seems that £200 a unit was very over estimated, unless I am majorly missing something, then there is the potential for nearer £100 per unit based on 10 units, if this is correct then I am may just fill my mast with displays...although 4 sounds good...how many would you all be interested in at say....£120 with very little if any self assembly.

You never know this could go somewhere...i wonder if Angus would let the YAPP branding be used :D
 
Shaun,
could this unit be fed via NMEA 0183?
If yes, I would at least buy one. Depending on the size of the unit inclusive housing, maybe two or three. Do you already know how big the units will be?
 
It crosses my mind that this project (and other YAPP projects) would be ideal for the Open Source development model. Although primarily a method used in for software development, there are ample examples of Open Source hardware development (e.g. OpenMoko, and this gives other examples).

Realistically, all this needs is for someone to set up a suitable Wiki, and to act as a project leader. Exposure on forums such as this would attract developers; on this forum we have people who include software developers, electronic experts, and enclosure designers.
 
Size wise, the target would be similar to the b&g 20/20, although hopefully a little slimmer. It is difficult to tell without the components in hand and idea of what other bits are needed...wireless comms etc if we go down that route. The idea is that it would read any NMEA 0183 data stream and display it in a larger format, who knows, even the motor boats light be interested if used s blue backlight :)

Antarcticpilot. I fully agree with you, there is an opportunity to revolutionise the way we think about pricing for marine electronics. With a little crowd sourcing we could probably create an entire instrument line, with better features at a hugely reduced cost, we all seem to have used to the fact that it has to cost thousands.

I will set a wiki up and post the details.

As for skills...it would be great if anyone who is interested who may have applicable skills and would want to participate could post their interest and skill set


Me - Software development manager for last 10 years, primarily in the Microsoft arena. Previously a network security specialist. Always been on the lookout for boaty projects, have plenty of ideas and conceptually know what needs to be done, grass root skills and professional expertise lacking, but always willing to learn. Pretty good at sourcing and negotiating with suppliers and quickly learn about new arenas when relating to technology, not quite so good on the yacht master syllabus though

Books currently on order... Programming c
Programming python -i am sure a million and 1 projects can be built based on a raspberry pi in the future
 
ShaunG said:
Antarcticpilot. I fully agree with you, there is an opportunity to revolutionise the way we think about pricing for marine electronics. With a little crowd sourcing we could probably create an entire instrument line, with better features at a hugely reduced cost, we all seem to have used to the fact that it has to cost thousands.

I will set a wiki up and post the details.

As for skills...it would be great if anyone who is interested who may have applicable skills and would want to participate could post their interest and skill set


Me - Software development manager for last 10 years, primarily in the Microsoft arena. Previously a network security specialist. Always been on the lookout for boaty projects, have plenty of ideas and conceptually know what needs to be done, grass root skills and professional expertise lacking, but always willing to learn. Pretty good at sourcing and negotiating with suppliers and quickly learn about new arenas when relating to technology, not quite so good on the yacht master syllabus though

Books currently on order... Programming c
Programming python -i am sure a million and 1 projects can be built based on a raspberry pi in the future
Click to expand...

That's great! I don't know what I can contribute to this project, but should chart plotters etc. ever be on the agenda, I have skills to contribute.

Me:

Software development since (about) 1976 - pretty much every computer language under the sun, most recently Java, JavaScript, JSP etc. C, Fortran, Basic, x86 and Z80 assembler, and lots more I've forgotten! Have worked on software development for hardware projects, but a long time ago.

Geographic Information Systems since about 1979; extensive skills in using OpenSource software in web based applications. Member of GIS ISO and BS standards committees. Mapping and charting expertise since 1979.
 
ShaunG said:
The base wiki is up

http://yappmarine.wikidot.com/

I will start adding to it over the next couple of days, if anyone else wants to add to it then please do...

Please promote and post to anyone that would like to contribute or have any interest
Click to expand...

Seems pretty low to take AngusMcD' YAPP acronym, basically steal it, register a URL based on it as your own.

Will the projects be lacking originality too?
 
I don't have any special electronic skills or the like, but I could promote the project here on the continent (live in Germany). I'm sure there are interested boaters here.
 
The more people we can get involved the better, if we can crowd source then we could be amazed at the skills that are out there

The wiki now has its very own forum to discuss the specifics, I will keep progressing the site
 
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