About Navman-Sailboat-InstrumentsAbout Navman-Sailboat-Instruments The catalyst for development of the integrated instrument system is undoubtedly the rapid development of microprocessor computing power, electronics miniaturisation and appropriate software developments. Another key development was the low cost fluxgate compasses. The range of parameters available has now reached more than 75 separate measurements. While discrete instrument systems without the ability to either communicate or calculate anything other than the measured function are available, purchasers will probably have to opt for parts of an overall integrated system. What is Integration? Integration can be simply defined in the context of two principal system capabilities. Integrated systems have a great advantage in that duplication of equipment such as fluxgate sensors, log and depth transducers are eliminated. About Navman-Sailboat-Instruments The two primary system configurations are as follows: All inputs from transducers and information are processed within a single Central Processor Unit (CPU). The information is displayed at the instrument heads and able to communicate freely to external equipment. Data is distributed via a single "daisy chain" network to all instrument heads and connected peripherals such as autopilots and GPS. Total integration where all electronics equipment, which includes the instrumentation, position fixing systems, autopilot, chart plotters are both physically matched, with a manufacturer specific interfacing protocol. In some cases engine instrumentation and communications are both physically matched as part of that integration process. About Interfacing Interfacing is the process of interconnecting various electronic equipment and systems so that digitally encoded information can be transferred between them and used for processing tasks or display. There are a number of considerations that have to be considered by manufacturer’s, that include the type of physical equipment involved such as connectors and cable, the voltages, impedances, current values and signal timing. At a more technical level, there is the data structure and transfer rate, and the protocol, which determines the information to communicate, the time to communicate, the frequency and error correction. The data messages must also have compatible structures and content. The US National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) devised the first general digital standard in 1980 (NMEA 0180). This was developed for position fixing systems to autopilot communication to transfer cross-track error. NMEA 0182 followed this up, which was for use with plotting systems. The current standard is NMEA 0183 and is now being slowly replaced by NMEA 2000. The latest edition of The Marine Electrical and Electronics Bible is out now, fully revised and updated with all the latest technology
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