Information System for Rescue Boats
ATLANTIC PACIFIC'S MISSION
Atlantic Pacific exists to eliminate death by drowning, providing lifeboats and trained volunteer crews to areas where there are none.
The solution comprises a Raspberry Pi-based system with a GPS sensor, screen, and user input device. The charting software OpenCPN has been chosen due to the availability of existing free online resources and a proven track record of past robustness. This will allow future development to be more easily accessible.
These are all combined into a rugged, waterproof container, capable of withstanding harsh maritime conditions. A mix of a joystick and function dedicated buttons are used to operate the system. We are the only product in the field offering a fully open-source experience.
At the core of the system is the Raspberry Pi 4 model B 8GB.
Its excellent performance, compact form factor and low price point make it an excellent candidate for our mission. This is combined with a GPS sensor accurate up to 3m to gather locational data.
The off-the-shelf open-source design principles allow our navigation system to be both substantially cheaper and more repairable than existing systems. This also permits in the field modifications and swapping of faulty components, as well as tailoring system functionality to be fully fit to Atlantic Pacific’s purpose.
Our Approach
Technology Implemented
Our Advantage
Design of the Information System
Features of the designed solution
KEY FEATURES
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Real-time location displayed on chart using GPS
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Plot future course on chart
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Display past course
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Operable while underway
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Configurable charts for selected area of operation
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Custom points of interest markers
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Multiple light modes for night-time operations
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Dedicated buttons for frequently used functions
USER INTERFACE
The User Interface is easy to operate when out on the water with key information displayed on large dials. Additional maps from all over the world can be added, facilitating flexible deployment worldwide. External buttons to commonly used functions such as man overboard and auto-follow are included to reduce hassle in case of emergency.
A joystick is used to navigate through the menus to set waypoints and other points of interest. These points of interest can be updated with a description and images. Going beyond the original project brief, the team has developed a marinized prototype (with extra USB ports for data transfer) to be installed onto the new generation of lifeboats!