Autopilot for small power boat

Posted by Zeljko Vincic on November 5, 2015 at 3:43am

Hello everyone!
I have a small powerboat and want to make the autopilot to sail.
I ordered APM 2.6 with a local retailer,
The idea is the following:
- Control only over the compass, so take a course manually and then run the autopilot to keep it
- Control must be +1, -1, +10, -10 degrees for course correction
- Display for the course and heading
- Engine at the helm over the belt
- Rudder angle sensor as feedback
- GPS just as an option, I think that I will never need or if it already exists as a possibility, why not?
Slightly collect materials and opinions so I will inform the group about the progress and so will be free to ask some questions.
Calm sea!

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Replies

  • Zeljko Vincic February 18, 2016 at 9:21am

    Today finally everything is working properly (winter was long ...). Software I completely rearranged, solve problems with power supply, all mounted the the boat and set sail in a straight line. A little correction PID parameters and everything went smoothly despite the strong side wind and waves.
    The film follows tomorrow, today I was busy testing that I taped so here's just a picture of the mechanics on my boat.

    http://www.igreklik.com/slike/images/13632988153325892472.jpg

    • Fred R > Zeljko Vincic February 22, 2016 at 2:13am

      Congratulations Zeljko! Great work.

      Hopefully you will show us the video and tell about your initial impressions. Thank you.

      Regards
      Fred

  • Zeljko Vincic January 15, 2016 at 7:35am

    Here is some pictures of my project:

    http://i.imgur.com/OwyPMIg.jpg

    http://i.imgur.com/55BNWN6.jpg

    http://i.imgur.com/30hEe0o.jpg

    http://i.imgur.com/0ipw7Mz.jpg

    http://i.imgur.com/1KUKib8.jpg

  • Darius Jack January 12, 2016 at 4:01pm
    So it's time to develop alike drive in support of autopilot in a boat.

    I was afraid of your solution, exposing hands of operator to open toothed belt in move.

    Closed, none-belt solution, known from scooter starter's gear.

    Autopilot drive by AG Leader is smart, motor is flat, like in direct drive
    motors.

    Get pinion gear made of 2 parts, mounted to the shaft and motor with gear
    and servo clutch and outer lock to fix the drive case.

    Can you calculate the diameter of your pinion gear for your none-belt solution ?
    • Zeljko Vincic > Darius Jack January 15, 2016 at 7:14am

      My plan is to close the belt in the plastic housing. So do other manufacturers who make similar systems.
      Autopilot from your link is ok but too much mechanical parts for my opportunities.
      The rest do not really understand - a small pulley is 5 cm and the great 25th

      My next step is to join the hydraulic pump and valve control, the system is being tested.

      Now I prepare deleted photos, I realized that the missing :) By the way I will put a few new ...

  • Fred R December 13, 2015 at 1:19pm

    Hi Zeljko,

    I could not agree more with your feature request. I just added it to the Arduboat feature wish list and defined it this way:

    - automatic navigation is done according to compass reading (not by GPS)
    - automatic navigation can be overrun by manual steering at any time, but the moment the steering stick is returned to the center position the heading by compass at that moment is fixed and automatic navigation will hold that heading
    - speed control is manual

    How it's going? Have you found any solution to the compass navigation?

    Regards,
    Fred

    • Darius Jack > Fred R January 10, 2016 at 12:50pm

      Hi all,

      @Zeljko,

      excellent Autopilot solution for you by

      OnTack3 Assisted Steering by AG Leader

      http://www.agleader.com/products/guidance-steering/ontrac3/

      You can watch videos on Youtube.

      BTW.

      My earlier inputs to this thread are lost

      Anything wrong ?

    • Zeljko Vincic > Darius Jack January 10, 2016 at 12:54pm

      I dont't know Darius, moderators clear some posts, why???

      This pilot on your video is toy. Not bad but note useful for the boat.

    • Darius Jack > Zeljko Vincic January 10, 2016 at 1:57pm

      None of my previous in this thread present.

      What video do you mean ?

      Just preview web page to the bottom.

      This is highly professional power steering technology to work for powerful

      farm tractor.

      I buy it.

      For video just enter "OnTrack3 AG Leader" into YouTube

    • Zeljko Vincic > Darius Jack January 10, 2016 at 9:30pm

      Sorry, I was too fast in the review. This is the right thing for this purpose!

This reply was deleted.