the Sub · system

Navigation

GPS doesn't work underwater, so she dead-reckons from motion, heading and depth, and zeroes the drift with a GPS fix each time she surfaces — with DVL bottom-lock and sonar/terrain matching stacking on for precision.

Decisions & notes

Navigation & perception

  • No GPS underwater → EKF dead-reckoning (IMU + RM3100 compass + Bar30XT depth), zeroed by a GPS fix at each surfacing (sawtooth error).
  • DVL bottom-lock (Water Linked A50, 300 m) drops drift to ~0.1–1% of distance — turns "come home" into "relocate a wreck".
  • Sonar: Ping2 (down + forward) now, Ping360 imaging for the search/inspect loop; terrain-aided nav is a later software layer.
  • Eyes: IMX678 4K behind the dome (gimballed) + exploreHD nav/rear cams + 4× Lumen lights.

Parts (20)

GPSSparkFun NEO-M9N breakout + antennaArrived
CompassRM3100 magnetometer — received FlyArm Meg_3D_3100 (generic breakout, bare header)Arrived
Depth primaryBar30XT (BARXT-VP, sealed)Arrived
Depth backupBar30Arrived
Camera primaryArducam IMX678 4K STARVIS 2 USB 3.0 (bare module, NO enclosure)Arrived
Camera secondaryDWE exploreHD (400m sealed, epoxy/potted cable)Arrived
Iridium antenna feedthroughSMA F-F bulkhead, epoxy-potted into M10 (depth-rated) + short internal SMA jumperArrived
Camera gimbal (pan/tilt)Adafruit Mini Pan-Tilt bracket (#1967) + 2× MG90S metal-gear servos + printed camera adapterArrived
Camera rearDWE exploreHD (400m sealed, epoxy/potted cable) — rear-facingArrived
I2C splitterI2C splitter board (bundled with the Pixhawk 6C kit, #1) — passive JST-GH fan-outArrived
LightsLumen R4 set of 4Arrived
EchosounderPing2 sonar altimeterArrived
Lights — zone 2Lumen R4 pre-connected set of 4 (500m) — outer/wide zoneArrived
Echosounder (forward)Ping2 sonar — forward-facing (basic forward collision warning)Arrived
Strobe (USCG)Sirius Signal C-1003 SOS lightArrived
Recovery pingerDIY: piezo + ATtiny, pottedPlanned
Pinger receiverDirectional 37.5kHz diver/locator hydrophone (topside)Planned
Imaging sonarPing360Planned
Light sensorTSL2591 lux (behind dome)Arrived
DVLWater Linked DVL A50 (300m) — 1-yr-old unit, 25% offArrived