Open Source Navigation

[goeielewe]

The purpose of this thread is going to be for me to document the process to set up an open source chartplotter and autopilot using inexpensive hardware and free (opensource) software. I'm not planning on going over $300 for the entire system including all peripherals.

Hopefully this helps others!

Hardware I plan to use ATM;

1. Raspberry Pi3 (just arrived in the mail 3/16/16)
2. Globalsat GPS Receiver Arriving around 3/22-3/24
3. RTL-SDR USB receiver (to recieve AIS signals, more on this later) Arriving around 3/22-3/24
4. RS442 USB Serial converter This is required for the Pi 3 to communicate with Autotillers.

Operating System


I plan on using Openplotter, an OS developed for marine navigation and the ARM processor architecture.







(From the Openplotter website)




Please stick around for updates as the system comes together!

[denverd0n]

The problem is always the display. This is easy to do if you are willing to accept the pseudo-daylight viewable screen of a tablet or smart-phone. If you want a display that is TRULY daylight viewable, though, then you start running into enough money to make the economics of it questionable.

Best of luck to you, in any case.

[goeielewe]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

The problem is always the display. This is easy to do if you are willing to accept the pseudo-daylight viewable screen of a tablet or smart-phone. If you want a display that is TRULY daylight viewable, though, then you start running into enough money to make the economics of it questionable.

Best of luck to you, in any case.

This has been more of a concern for me than anything else. If anyone wants to chime in with an idea or tip I'd be happy to hear it.