This chapter needs to be written/updated/translated: http://forum.openmarine.net/forumdisplay.php?fid=16
There are people who buy boats but there are also people who build them, why not build your own electronics too? OpenPlotter is a combination of software and hardware to be used as navigational aid on small and medium boats. It is also a complete home automation system onboard. It works on ARM computers like the Raspberry Pi[1] and is open-source, low-cost and low-consumption. Its design is modular, so you just have to implement what your boat needs. Do it yourself.
- OpenCPN[2]. Concise and robust navigation software. Chart a course and track your position.
- zyGrib[3]. Weather data download and visualization of GRIB files format 1 and 2.
- SDR-AIS. Receive and decode AIS with cheap DVB-T dongles. Calibration tools Included.
- NMEA 0183. Receive, filter, multiplex and send NMEA data through serial and network inputs and outputs.
- NMEA 2000. Connect an USB adapter to your N2K network to receive and send data.
- Signal K Server[4]. Convert data from sensors to Signal K and exchange data between all formats.
- WiFi Access Point. Share NMEA and Signal K data with laptops, tablets and phones.
- Headless. Access to OpenPlotter desktop from the cockpit through your mobile devices.
- Dashboards. Build instrument panels to visualize data from your mobile devices.
- Compass. Heading and heel from an IMU sensor. Tilt compensated. Self-calibration.
- 1W sensors. Connect multiple temperature sensors. Motor, exhaust, fridge, water ...
- I2C sensors. Connect temperature, pressure, humidity or light sensors.
- SPI sensors. Measure battery charge, tank level or any data from an analog sensor.
- Digital inputs. Connect common or specials switches. Detect smoke, opening doors, motion ...
- Digital outputs. Activate relays, LEDs, buzzers ...
- Actions. Use date, time or value of any data flowing through your system as a trigger to run multiple actions.
- Share data. Publish data from your boat on Twitter or send emails and SMS automatically.
- Remote Monitoring. Receive or send data to your boat while you are away.
- Open tools. Use multiple built in tools to interact with the system and create your own ones.
[1] https://www.raspberrypi.org [2] http://opencpn.org [3] http://www.zygrib.org [4] http://signalk.org