With the software running on the Raspberry Pi and touchscreen in a “bench test” format on top of my desk, it was time to start thinking about how I would actually package this up into a complete device that I could install on the boat. It needed to be waterproof, powered by the boat’s battery bank, and ideally no larger than necessary.
With the basic platform package chosen — Raspberry Pi, a 7″ 800×480 sunlight-readable touchscreen, and the NGT-1 — it was time to put it to work. This post dives into the software built to run on this platform and deliver that telemetry analysis and visualization I was looking for.
This post covers some details about the shopping needed to identify and acquire elements described in post #2, “the platform,” as well as the numerous other smaller components that went into the complete assembly.
To build a device that would accomplish my goals I needed to get the data from the sensor instruments, run some computation over it, and visualize it on a clear display. I needed to choose fundamental building blocks of the system to accomplish these goals.
I’ve always thought it was fun to do small electronics hardware hacking projects. I also really enjoy sailing. I had an idea for an onboard electronic gadget I could make to help with sailboat racing. It took four years — but it works!
I am building a solar-powered outdoor art project and built this simple A-frame to hold my solar panels. In case this is useful to others, here are the steps to build one for yourself. This project can be accomplished by one person with about 6–8 hours of work.
