Yapp for tiller pilot needed

[NickRobinson]

My TP10(?) is sulking after I was rash enough to use it in the rain.

So here's a thought- we all have cheap and robust GPS systems on board, PC/Android, etc.

Could someone cleverer than me produce/source a box to take gps data and use it to drive the TP/Autohelm motor directly?

(hmm... has this been discussed before?...)



Nick

 

[TSB240]

Biggest enemy to any boxed electrical gear is any change in temperature with moisture involved. It wont make any difference whether its a PBO YAPP or a commercial design!

A commercial TP has a design which in the main combats moisture ingress.

No design will stop the physics of a heating and cooling cycle if it is not hermetically sealed.

In my experience our TP gets hot when in use.... In fine weather never had a problem.

In damp or wet weather dont ever let it cool down before removing it and drying it as much as possible as soon as posible.

The cooling action after use in rain or possibly as a result of a rogue wave will mean the box or TP sucks in any moisture. Once in you need to open it up to get rid of it.

I have little hope that a homemade YAPP version will be any better......

Over to you Angus.....

 

[prv]

I have little hope that a homemade YAPP version will be any better......

I think the idea is that the "brain" live in a box protected below decks, with the existing case containing only the motor. The hope being that the motor is less likely than the PCB etc to be troubled by a little moisture - I don't know if that's realistic.

Since the request is basically "please re-implement all the clever bits involved in designing a tillerpilot", I suspect it's a little beyond the usual YAPP scope. Not that Angus couldn't do it if he wanted (I believe this is actually his day job) but it's a big project to do as a hobby.

Pete

 

[NickRobinson]

That's right Pete,

The TPs look like BBC Micros inside, discrete components and the like.

Imagine a TP with just the motor and gearing, driven by a school type project interface box (thirsty if using a laptop)
using the data from a Garmin or MMap 'rolling road' big arrow little arrow, left right data stream.

The TP would just be a dumb servo

Nick

 

[rob2]

In effect you're describing the more upmarket models with the control head at the nav table driving a simple ram for the tiller. It could well be that such a control unit could be used, even offering a remote controller at the helm and maybe the TP could be wired to suit?

Rob.

 

[bendyone]

What you need is here http://www.ybw.com/forums/group.php?groupid=14

 

[NickRobinson]

What you need is here http://www.ybw.com/forums/group.php?groupid=14

Interesting- pity the thread's gone cold. There was me, thinking about a compass card with slots in it with leds above and photocells below- ( I must take after my namesake, Heath.....