EarthExplorer - a new Beta

[Rasbats]

More entertainment, based on ShipDriver. This plugin links with Google Earth(GE). A model of a container ship can be driven across the GE display.

The plugin can control the camera position of GE, allowing zoom/pan/tilt and is available here:

https://github.com/Rasbats/EarthExplorer_pi

A GPX sample for the new locks at the southern end of the Panama Canal is in the repo. The EarthExplorer autopilot can be used with this.

Installation and user instructions are in the GitHub repository wiki, found here:

https://github.com/Rasbats/EarthExplorer_pi/wiki

Windows installer in the repo. Easy to build on Linux. Intend adding more installers shortly.

Probably lots of bugs. Please let us know about them.

Mike

[Rasbats]

Ok... first bug. The model was not adjusted to sit in the centre of the xyz planes. For this reason it does not correspond exactly with the image of the vector icon for the vessel on the chart.

Quick fix... put the GPS at the bow of the vessel.

Mike

[x2y3z4]

What happend to this plugin?
I know most navigators are using layers these days, but I do love using a spilt screen on a extra wide monitor.

[Rasbats]

Legacy release is here:
https://github.com/Rasbats/EarthExplorer_pi/releases

x2y3z4 ...
Did you get it working?

Mike

[x2y3z4]

I'm still on the "old" plugin (1.3) which needs a GE version of 7.3.2.... or prior

[MazatlanMexico]

Any new developments on this plugin?
Can someone give detailed steps on how to install it?
I have tried the steps on the wiki with not success.

[Rasbats]

MazatlanMexico...

Thanks for giving this plugin a go. I had a job starting the plugin again today.

How far have you got?

1. Is the plugin installed and are you able to select the EarthExplorer start position?
2. Have you installed Chrome and the Webserver extension?
3. I am using GE Pro 7.3.4.8248 (64-bit) on Windows. What is your version?
4. After first opening the plugin, selecting the start position and moving the ship the plugin should create a new directorywith the file placemark.kml in it. Under Windows it is ProgramData/opencpn/plugins/EarthExplorer_pi. Have you got this directory?
5. Is this data folder the default for the Chrome webserver?
6. Does OpenCPN connections have a TCP/IP connection to the webserver address?

Please let us know your progress. Yes ... the manual is pretty limited. Your experience will help with an update.

Mike

[MazatlanMexico]

Mike;
I have not gotten that far at all. I have chrome and downloaded the webserver extension from here?
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/d...mlocgigb?hl=en

When I open chrome I see the webserver extension but don't know how to open EarthExplorer.

I also got Google Earth Pro 7.3.4.8248 (32-bit) installed.

I went to the wiki but I didn't know what to download from there. Could you point out which file is the plugin here: https://github.com/Rasbats/EarthExplorer_pi

I apologize but I haven't installed a plugin manually yet

[MazatlanMexico]

UPDATE: Ok. I am getting somewhere now. I found this page: https://github.com/Rasbats/EarthExpl.../tag/v0.3-beta

and successfully installed the EarthExplorer Plugin. Still trying to figure out the next steps.

[Rasbats]

MazatlanMexico...

1. --
2. --
3. --
4. After first opening the plugin, selecting the start position and moving the ship the plugin should create a new directory with the file placemark.kml in it. Under Windows it is ProgramData/opencpn/plugins/EarthExplorer_pi. Have you got this directory?
5. Is this data folder the default for the Chrome webserver?
6. Does OpenCPN connections have a TCP/IP connection to the webserver address?

(4) Right-Click on the chart and you get the menu option EarthExplorer start position. After selecting this you press Start when you should be able to drive the ship.
(5) For Chrome webserver you press the Default button and navigate to the directory ProgramData/opencpn/plugins/EarthExplorer_pi/data. I get /plugins/data showing on the webserver dialog screen.
(6) In OpenCPN->Options->Connections you need Add connection. Use TCP/IP Network Address 127.0.0.1 (or 192.168.1.94) and port 8887.

After this you are ready to check if you can open the file Placemark.kml with Google Earth.(Should have been made in ProgramData/opencpn/plugins/EarthExplorer_pi/data).

Mike

[rgleason]

You are head towards training Pilots now? Wow.

[Rasbats]

MazatlanMexico ...

The manual has been updated. Hope the extra detail helps.

https://opencpn-manuals.github.io/ma...0.1/index.html

Mike

[MazatlanMexico]

Mike;
The plugin was installed successfully and I can see the boat (red) with dotted lines on the bow moving at the desired speed on opencpn.
I was able to do everything on your updated manual but having trouble with Google Earth. On EarthExplorer_pi > data I have container.dae, link.kml and placemark.kml. When I open placemark.kml with GE, it flies to the area where the boat is but I don't see the boat moving like I see it on opencpn. Is there a step that I am missing?

Also, how do I get the boat back to original location. I know that right clicking on opencpn has that option but when start EarthExplorer plugin, it moves the boat back to the last location that I navigated to.

[Rasbats]

MazatlanMexico ...

Three programs to juggle with. Not easy.

it moves the boat back to the last location that I navigated to.

Have you set up the webserver? And made the connection in OpenCPN?

No boat indicates GE is not finding container.dae. May need to open placemark.kml again.

Link.kml adds the model again and links with the plugin. You should see the Temporary Places/EarthExplorer line blinking.

WARNING: Once you have it working taking the ship around the world becomes addictive.

Mike

[MazatlanMexico]

I can see the boat moving on both GE and opencpn now. Let me know of other developments when available