Hello,
We currently have a USV which has a third party air unit to control the USV via a Pixhawk 6C.
We want to integrate the Omniscan 450 SS. The easiest route seems to be that we need to use a Pi4 and run BlueOS. The sonar needs IMU and GPS information to be sent back to SonarView on the shore. Instead of using the Navigator HAT can we read the telem data from the Pixhawk (containing IMU and GPS data) and some how integrate this with the sonar data for transmission?
Many Thanks,
Tom
Hi @tomdertech -
Yes - simply connect your pixhawk to the Pi4 running BlueOS via USB cable - it should be recognized in the autopilot firmware menu! Simply flash with the latest ArduRover, and configure for your vessel - the system should make the telemetry from the unit available to the SonarView extension!
Does the BlueOS handle everything the sonar requires including bridging it to the shore?
I assume natively it uses WiFi, could we add a cellular modem?
Is there anything else on the shore PC other than running SonarView (and the corresponding modem) that is required? Do you have any recommendations for this setup?
Kind Regards,
Tom
Hi @tomdertech -
Yes, BlueOS handles it all - including running SonarView onboard - not on your topside PC! This lets it log the data locally, so its continuity is not connection quality dependent. You can indeed use WiFi to reach the Pi - at short range, 5-10m at most, the onboard Pi WiFi (via it creating a hotspot AP, or connecting to a WiFi network) lets you reach BlueOS. The BlueBoat uses Mikrotik Radios to link from 100m to 1km +, with directional antennas. You can indeed use a cellular modem, and reach your instance of BlueOS via ZeroTier from anywhere in the world!
You can also use QGC or Cockpit to control the system via your WiFi or ZeroTier link!
All you’ll need on your topside computer is Chrome, and potentially an internet connection if using ZeroTier. Your third party air-unit may serve well as a redundant backup?