Digital Dashboard (pics)

[Bubba1235]

For those that have been following Opp's thread (who hasn't?) you know we have been kicking around designing and using a digital dashboard.

Lots of folks have asked me for so pictures so I thought I would toss a some screen captures on here for everyone to see and comment on. All thoughts are welcomed!

Picture 1 - This is the dashboard powered up and ready for use but not yet having started the engine.

Picture -2 This is the display after having started the engine. Note: The Gauges are active.

Picture 3 - This is with engine running and a "low Oil Pressure" condition. Note the gauge has turned Red, as well as the "Silence Alarm" button. Clicking the silence alarm turns off the most irritating audible alarm you have ever heard.

Picture 4 - This is a picture of all operating normally with boat underway. Note that the accesories are turned on. (Bilge pump, blowers, lights.) Also note the boat is running at 40 MPH. That is a "set point" that is under the "Captain's Options".

Picture 5 - This is the Captain's Options screen. Note that nothing can be changed unless you supply a password.

Picture 6 - This is the Captain's Options screen after being unlooked. Here you can alter the alarm set points for all gauges, review and resest the hour meter as well as things you might do based on hours of operations. Pay special note at the Max Allowed Speed. If you have teenage drivers this will be very handy in preventing them from "hot rodding" the boat.

 

[ne7800]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

oh man that looks sweet

 

[oops!]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

is that snazzy or what....

 

[JustJason]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

Sooooo.... what is that? Is it a custom program or something off the shelf?
And what are you using for an interface? Is it a touch panel or an lcd screen?
looks interesting whatever it is.

 

[betayv]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

hi guys this is awesome look really good hey one dumb question how this will be billed is going to be like a computer monitor or laptop congratulations to all you guys.

 

[zach103]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

i say touch screen. the mouse will just get in the way

 

[JustJason]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

sooo.... what are ya going to use for an input/output system?

 

[mnessman]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

I think that this is an awesome display, youll probably be getting a ton of orders pretty soon.....

 

[AZMinyard]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

It would be cool to have some thresholds built in to shut of the engine if oil temp exceeds a certain level - or engine temp, oil pressure, etc. Would also be cool to have a speaker hook up or route warning sounds through the boat stereo.

Good work - is this a product under development or just a bit of fun coding?

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

glad your useing the black one , I like it the best !! It really does look cool ,

Can you password it just to start the engines ?? John

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

Looks nice. Have you come up with a price yet?

Also, I think installation is gonna be a problem. At least on my dash, I don't have much room to place a screen big enough to see all the gauges clearly. Installations are limited to a square or wide screen. My dash is 3 times as wide as it is high (at least). A completely new dash would be in order.

Nice work though!! Reminds me of my dream of Plane building. Keep it up!!

PS touchscreen x 2

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

Getting there anyhow. What do you think of the "Captains" Options"?

Bubba, amazing job so far. I really think the Captains options are great. It gives you a lot of flexibility to adjust according to your requirements.

Also, I'm assuming you have in addition to function resets the ability to store and map the engine data for future reference?

Overall, that is one awesome looking console.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

Actually I was thinking of providing a log, most likely in a small data base so that its easily searchable. (Some place Opps can keep all those photos handy!)

That would be great to log each activity by date and duration and track that data. I'm not sure there we be enough room in the DB to house all his resto pics though at the rate he's posting pics

 

[redfury]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

Basically you have a "black box" built in...very good idea on the safety side, and the legal side in the event that an "event" occurs...you'll have data to prove your claim one way or another....facts don't lie.

One thing that I'd think that I'd like initially, but probably not use a lot would be a way to see the data graphed. Download the data to a usb thumbdrive and run it in your computer with analysis software to see what max rpms at a given water speed was compared against fuel usage to see how efficient the hull/motor/outdrive is when fine tuning it. Could be invaluable in proper prop selection and engine tuning and give the boating community at large a better insight as to real world performance with different variables.

It would be interesting to be able to measure prop thrust and stress on the boat...like a sensor that measured the movement of the engine stringers on an x,y,z to see how much force is being transmitted through the boat- would also be an early indicator of structural failure due to rot/fractures.

That being said, this is very cool. How does the display perform in direct sunlight? Perhaps you might want to add an option of inverting the color scheme to change the contrast like a GPS unit that switches from daylight to night time driving modes.

 

[colobiker]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

bubba1235,

great ideas, I love it. being a plc programmer by trade, I see exatcly where your going. what size screen did you use on your layout.

very very nice, great ideas.

What software did you create that in?

I know we had tossed some ideas around on Oops's thread, but I havent moved forward with anything. (I bought a boat and have been messing with that)

 

[BF]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

Looks awesome... congrat's.

One thought, how about putting in some safety feature to give some kind of warning if the blowers have not been run prior to pressing the start button? Or maybe the start button should be red if the blowers are off, but turn green after the blower has run for a preset period of time? Or pressing the start button without running blowers causes a pop up warning of some sort?

Will there be another horn button? If not, the one on the touch screen should be bigger and located more conspicuously. Something easily pressed to give the "lookout idiot" blast while underway

Oh, and where's the fuel gauge? Instantaneous flow rate would be nice too... maybe also estimated remaining run time at current consumption rate. (?)

I think some kind of fairly large roller wheel/trackball interface permanently mounted beside the throttle might be a nicer interface than using a touch screen. (?) or maybe have both? One button of the trackball could be dedicated to the horn.

Anyway, just some thoughts... looks extremely cool!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

That is just too cool.

I think the touch screen would work best out on the water bouncing around. Also would like a permenantly mounted track ball in place of a mouse as an optional control just in case the kids want to play video games or just surf the net with the wireless.

If the PC crashes, can the boat still be started and operated?

 

[JustJason]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

Just so you can do some research...... Basscat boats did a digital dash 10 years ago or so. They had all sorts of problems with it. They don't support the dash anymore and the ones that fail are replaced with conventional gauges.
you may want to look into why they failed.
looks great though.

 

[colobiker]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

I understand what your saying.. cost wise.

I am more of a PLC fan myself. so I dont know much about the PC aspect.

I know you were talking sidline thing. I was actually thinking myself of using PLC's around for home automation (I currently have my sprinklers controlled by a GE-Faunc) using simple PLC's for cost effective home automation instead of the High end stuff you see in custom houses.


the PLC manufactreres are now making smaller PLC's that are quite a bit cheaper, these are non expandable I know IDEC, AB and GE make them. much like smart relays, but with more power associated with them.

for grins go to www.automationdirect.com.. they make touch screen PLC's that have a pretty resonable cost

its tough to beat a pre packaged deal, as you know all development costs are rolled into the product

Thats why I scored a Curtis Engage IV for my boat. (the local curtis rep is a good friend).. but with all this talk.. I might can that idea and go full blown PLC with a touch screen.

just for grins and giggles I wonder if an instrument panel from a wrecked car could be modified to work?

 

[danm2a2]

Re: Digital Dashboard (pics)

Very nice work. Hope you can get something that Oops likes and get it installed. Good luck on the sideline aspect. I would love to retrofit my 1975 Cobalt Tri-hull with a simple system. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread for further updates. Great work and best of luck.