matbox.de / Echolot Ranging Project

Echolot Ranging Project

Finally.. after four years: money and time allow for ideas and sketches to find their way into reality.
Figure 1 depicts what the system looks like.
You would like to know more about this project? Feel free to contact me at erp(ät)matbox.de.

Fig. 1: Components of the system and their interaction. (A) Stationary user device with GUI to view data in realtime, (B) Mobile unit, (C) Wireless communication via XBEE modules at 2,4GHz, (E) Echolot to measure depth of water, (G) GPS.

Features of Stationary user device (A)

• Wireless communication unit
• Real-time viewing of measured data
• Control of data aquisition by mobile unit
• OpenStreetMap compatibility

Features of Mobile unit (B)

• Wireless communication unit
• Echolot for water depth measurment
• GPS receiver
• Real-time logging of measurement data

A more detailed description and of course documentation of the progress are to follow.
 November 26th, 2011

The details are linked directly in the feature-lists.
 January 15th, 2012

Carrier boat January 14th, 2012

Fig. 2: Painting of boat, original image by robbe Modellsport.

A model ship by the supplier robbe will serve as carrier boat. Figure 2 depicts the planned painting.

I estimate its payload to be 1.8kg; excluding RC-unit, drive, rudder control, and respective batteries.