B&G H5000 update

I veckan kom den första mjukvaruuppdateringen till våra H5000-instrument. Även Zeus³, Vulcan och displayerna fick uppdateringar.

Sådana här saker kan ju vara hur krångliga som helst, så därför var det spännande att se hur det skulle funka.

Jag hittade alla uppdateringar under “Software Updates” och lade dem på samma microSD kort.

Zeus³ och Vulcan uppdateras genom att sätta i microSD-kortet innan man startar upp. Här kände Vulcan igen många av komponenterna på nätverket och frågade om dessa skulle uppdateras. Det gällde bland annat autopiloten (styrdator och controller), 3D Motion Sensor, barometer och en del annat. Även mastdisplayerna 20/20HV uppdaterar man härifrån.

H5000 uppdateras genom att skruva av en panel och stoppa in ett USB-minne. Här hade jag en sticka från Navionics som gör att man använda samma microSD-kort via USB.

Även H5000 Graphic Display uppdateras genom att skruva av ett litet lock på baksidan och stoppa in en USB-sticka när man startar om dem. Nu började man bli lite bortskämd och undrar varför de inte också kan göras centralt.

I alla fall superenkelt. Tog kanske 30 minuter från nedladdning tills allt var uppdaterat.

Vad är det då som är nytt?

New/Enhanced Feature Summary

A number of significant changes have been made to the H5000 feature set, based on feedback from installers and users. These include:

• Added ability to rename “Aft Depth” function to remove confusion when used as a multihull dual-depth system i.e. port/starboard vs. fore/aft
• Introduced expanded True Wind Correction tables to allow correction of TWS across a wider range (including upwind) and more resolution to TWA correction. The new tables use cubic spline interpolation within the CPU calculations and webserver to provide a smoother correction
• Improved heel / boat speed linearity correction tables, allowing adjustment to boat speed range
• Opened up advanced Pilot variables (e.g. TWS Response) for view in Graphic display and webserver, this also adds ability to pull/log the Pilot variables via the websockets interface
• Added Pilot commissioning ability to Graphic display. Allowing greater flexibility in choice of Pilot controller, including the Triton2 Pilot Controller.

Viktigast för oss var fler kalibreriungspunkter för båtfart, framförallt i lägre farter.

Vi har tidigare haft en beta-version med just denna funktionalitet. Även interpolationen verkar förbättrad.

The ability to select the range of boat speeds used for the linearity correction of boat speed is added to allow more precisecorrection of moderate performance yachts

• Correction table can now be set to use 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5, 15.0 knot reference speeds rather than the existing 5, 10, 15,20, 25, 30 to allow inshore race boats to have a higher resolution correction table
• Cubic spline interpolation is now used, providing a smoother transition between reference points [default = on]
• Webserver will display splined interpolation of tables
• Correction values for speeds over the maximum speed value used (15 or 30) are corrected to the same correction value as the final column. Correction values below the minimum speed value used (2.5 or 5.0) are interpolated to zero.
• In addition SOG is now displayed alongside any boat speed calibration within the webserver, to provide a visual reference

En annan sak som känns spännande, där man kan hoppas på bättre resultat både vid manövrar men även för autopiloten.

Wind: True Wind algorithm enhancement

The true wind solution has been further enhanced to match our WTP3 grand prix system, providing increased data stability (smoother numbers during manoeuvres), while still remaining responsive to changes, to give the best information available.

Any system with an autopilot will benefit from these changes with the additional change to “leeway corrected wind” being disabled by default, which will improve overall pilot performance from first power up. Non-autopilot users may re-enable this feature if desired.

In addition to these enhancements, greater resolution on wind offsets have been introduced, allowing corrections to be entered to a tenth of a degree (0.1).

Wind Enhancement: calibration/correction

The addition of expanded True Wind tables allows correction of True Wind Speed (TWS) across a wider range, including upwind, along with more control of TWA correction. New cubic spline interpolations within the CPU calculations and webserver to provide a smoother correction to calculated wind data.

• True Wind Speed table is now configurable upwind, reaching (fixed at 90) and downwind (Target TWA), to provide increased accuracy over the previous corrections –this change is critical for yachts sailing at high boat speeds in relation to wind speed
• Cubic Spline interpolation of the True Wind Speed and True Wind Angle tables is now (optionally) available, providing a smoother transition – especially useful when sailing slightly higher than target angle upwind [default = on]
• Webserver will display splined interpolation of tables in chart if enabled.

Data: Damping and presentation changes

To allow better control of the displayed wind data, independent damping for True Wind Speed has been added. This allows greater control of the displayed data by allowing TWD and TWS to damped independently.

In addition, additional control for damping functions of displayed data has been added along with enhancements with displayeddata maximising control of displayed data.
• Added the ability to damp Heel and Trim data
• Added the ability to damp Speed over Ground (SOG) and Course over Ground (COG)
• Performance target data uses the relevant damped data for a smoother change
• Added a decimal place to the velocity performance target data (i.e. Target Boat Speed)
• Removed the decimal place for performance percentage data (i.e. Polar Performance)

Interfaces: Websocket expansion

To further enhance the Websocket functionality for third party connections, the H5000 CPU can now act as the system Navigation Source allowing waypoint information (such as Range and Bearing to a mark) be sent into the CPU and then sent out to the displays.

Along with the navigational information, various new functions have been added to the Websocket which include:

• H5000 Pilot Variables – allowing logging of internal variables to aid with pilot setup

En del nytt i autopiloten också, där man kommer att kunna göra Commissioning och använda Advanced Mode på alla displayer.

Men det som jag är mest sugen på är att logga parametrarna från autopiloten, för att förstå hur den agerar.

Feature Summary: Pilot data available for display and logging

The following variables are now sent across the NMEA 2000 network and stored in the CPU datastore. They are available to external devices via the websockets interface for logging and display in the webserver:

• Active Perf Mode – TACTIVE PERF
  – TThe performancemode (PERF 1, 2, 3, 4or 5) set by the Pilot’s internal algorithm. Depending on settings in use this may not match the user setting
• Gust Bear Away – TGUST BA
  – The calculated angle to be applied to the Target Wind Angle
• TWS Bear Away – TTWS BA
  – The calculated angle to be applied to the Target Wind Angle
• Heel Compensation – THEEL COMP
  – The amount of applied Rudder Angle to counteract any heel induced broach
• Pilot Net Course – TNETCRSE
  – The magnetic course that the pilot is steering to
• Pilot Target Wind Angle – TPLT TARG WA
  – The calculated wind angle the pilot is steering to which is adjusted for Gust and TWS if enabled
• Pilot Weather Helm – TPLT WHELM
  – The applied rudder angle to keep pilot on a straight course
• Pilot Mean Heel – PLT AVG HEEL
  – Average heel angle recordedby Pilot

Autopilot: Failsafe Modes

The H5000 autopilot can now monitor the primary inputs (Boat Speed, Heading and GPS) and should any of these sources fail, the pilot can automatically change over to a backup source which is configured to suit the suit the system.

The sources are controlled from the standard SETTINGS > SOURCES > option where the following new sources have been added:
• Monitor Compass
• Position Backup
• Boat Speed Backup

Limitations
• These failsafe sources are only available from the H5000 Graphic, not available in webserver

Sedan finns det massor av små ändringar. Som att man kan visa olika data beroende på bog. Osäker på när det är aktuellt?

Zeus³ får bättre integration med mobiler:

Text Message and Phone Notification Display

Compatible with all current Bluetooth-enabled Zeus3 and Vulcan displays, the software update allows users to quickly and easily pair their smart phone to bring text message functionality to their unit. Offering support for both iOS and Android, device-dependent features include incoming text message display and reply, new message and message template creation, and access to message history and call logs.

Lite synd att den kommer så sent på säsongen. Nu är man ju sugen på att prova detta…