Winter project

Craig

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Feb 8, 2007
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My only winter project this year is adding a heading sensor and augmented reality feature to my Flir m232/Axiom. Anyone have any insight on the enhancement a heading sensor has?
20200214_084433.jpg
 
A heading sensor is kind of like an electronic compass they feeds heading data to your plotter. It tells your system the orientation of the boat at all times. This is essential for proper operation of systems like radar, and likely the augmented reality.

Without the heading sensor the only way the system can tell your heading is by gps when you are in motion. It does this via the position differential over time. But if you are stationary you can’t get a heading for GPS. And I’d drifting the system will think your boat is pointed in the direction of the drift, regardless of actual position.

The heading sensor is critical to radar ops because to provide actuate data - such as collision warnings - it must know where the front of the boat is at all times. Similar to the AR data - I think they provided bearing and other data about various obstructions.
 
A heading sensor is kind of like an electronic compass they feeds heading data to your plotter. It tells your system the orientation of the boat at all times. This is essential for proper operation of systems like radar, and likely the augmented reality.

Without the heading sensor the only way the system can tell your heading is by gps when you are in motion. It does this via the position differential over time. But if you are stationary you can’t get a heading for GPS. And I’d drifting the system will think your boat is pointed in the direction of the drift, regardless of actual position.

The heading sensor is critical to radar ops because to provide actuate data - such as collision warnings - it must know where the front of the boat is at all times. Similar to the AR data - I think they provided bearing and other data about various obstructions.

Thanks, I kinda understand all that. But is there a real enhancement to navigation other than a boat icon instead of a dot on the screen at rest and your chart not jumping around. I don't have radar. (Yet)
 
Thanks, I kinda understand all that. But is there a real enhancement to navigation other than a boat icon instead of a dot on the screen at rest and your chart not jumping around. I don't have radar. (Yet)
I'll answer in parts.

Basic nav system: GPS / chart plotter only.
  • Heading sensor needed? No.
  • Benefit: Shows your boat's true heading on the chart when stationary or drifting.
  • Impact of not having: Minor / negligible. Your boat may face one way at anchor, plotter will show it another direction.
  • Note: I had a plotter only system for 12 years w/o a heading sensor. Didn't bother me.
Advanced system (with radar, AIS, autopilot, or augmented reality)
  • Heading sensor needed? Yes
  • Benefit of having: Provides boat's accurate, real-time true heading for integration / display / use of advanced functions.
  • Impact of not having:
    • Radar: MARPA (contact / collision) data will not work. At rest, slow speed, or drifting, radar will not show the proper orientation of contacts. Many (most?) radars will disable certain functions if a heading sensor is not detected.
    • Augmented Reality: AR shows AIS targets, waypoints, and navigation objects, and radar target data on a video stream from a camera connected to your Raymarine system. The target data is overlaid on the video feed. Accurate relative heading data is necessary to properly match the target data on the screen with the object.
    • Autopilot: An autopilot will not work without an accurate heading sensor. It must know where the vessel is pointed. Many (most) modern autopilots will include a heading sensor in the autopilot controller.

TL/DR: Do you need a heading sensor? Yes, since you're adding augmented reality to your system.
 
I'll answer in parts.

Basic nav system: GPS / chart plotter only.
  • Heading sensor needed? No.
  • Benefit: Shows your boat's true heading on the chart when stationary or drifting.
  • Impact of not having: Minor / negligible. Your boat may face one way at anchor, plotter will show it another direction.
  • Note: I had a plotter only system for 12 years w/o a heading sensor. Didn't bother me.
Advanced system (with radar, AIS, autopilot, or augmented reality)
  • Heading sensor needed? Yes
  • Benefit of having: Provides boat's accurate, real-time true heading for integration / display / use of advanced functions.
  • Impact of not having:
    • Radar: MARPA (contact / collision) data will not work. At rest, slow speed, or drifting, radar will not show the proper orientation of contacts. Many (most?) radars will disable certain functions if a heading sensor is not detected.
    • Augmented Reality: AR shows AIS targets, waypoints, and navigation objects, and radar target data on a video stream from a camera connected to your Raymarine system. The target data is overlaid on the video feed. Accurate relative heading data is necessary to properly match the target data on the screen with the object.
    • Autopilot: An autopilot will not work without an accurate heading sensor. It must know where the vessel is pointed. Many (most) modern autopilots will include a heading sensor in the autopilot controller.

TL/DR: Do you need a heading sensor? Yes, since you're adding augmented reality to your system.

Thank you, I understand more clearly now.
I knew I needed it for AR but its also billed as a heading sensor. So if I add the other supported features in the future I should be good.
 
Thank you, I understand more clearly now.
I knew I needed it for AR but its also billed as a heading sensor. So if I add the other supported features in the future I should be good.
What you have there is a combination sensor. It receives multiple GPS signals and is a 9 axis attitude / heading sensor. 9 axis means that means it detects yaw (your heading), but also pitch and roll. It's needed for the AR system to properly overlay the data on the video stream. I agree that sensor should be fine for anything else you want to add to your system later.
 
I am upgrading from the original Raymarine Radar and VHF to Garmin 8612xsv, Fantom 54 Radar and VHF 315. The PO already added a 942xs two years ago. After reading through various posts here and researching further I learned as Brad said the MARPA as well as Motion Scope on the Garmin would not work properly. I called today to add the heading sensor. Already over budget anyway so might as well do it right!

Rob
 
I am upgrading from the original Raymarine Radar and VHF to Garmin 8612xsv, Fantom 54 Radar and VHF 315. The PO already added a 942xs two years ago. After reading through various posts here and researching further I learned as Brad said the MARPA as well as Motion Scope on the Garmin would not work properly. I called today to add the heading sensor. Already over budget anyway so might as well do it right!

Rob
Did you get the 9 axis heading sensor of the SteadyCast? They do the same thing but the SteadyCast is 1/4 the cost. I have a very similar setup and the SteadyCast works great.
 
Did you get the 9 axis heading sensor of the SteadyCast? They do the same thing but the SteadyCast is 1/4 the cost. I have a very similar setup and the SteadyCast works great.

I went with the 9 axis as I am planning to add autopilot next year and thought that might be the better choice. I figured better safe than sorry.

Rob
 
I went with the 9 axis as I am planning to add autopilot next year and thought that might be the better choice. I figured better safe than sorry.

Rob
You might want to change the order. The Garmin Reactor autopilots have a 9 axis heading sensor built in to the controller. The one you ordered will be redundant.
 
Note the heading sensor is very sensitive to magnetic influence, like a compass. On our boat, we added an external hailer about a foot from the heading sensor not realizing it (the HS was inside the cabin). Suddenly our boat always displayed 45 degrees to starboard.

Since we are not too bright, it took a little while for us to figure this out.
 

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