forked from FOSS/BangleApps
159 lines
5.8 KiB
Markdown
159 lines
5.8 KiB
Markdown
# Waypointer Moto
|
|
|
|
Waypointer Moto is a GPS navigation aid intended to be attached to
|
|
the handlebars of a motorcycle.
|
|
It uses the GPS to find out which direction it's
|
|
travelling and shows the direction and distance to the destination
|
|
"as the crow flies". It gives you an indication of where to go,
|
|
but exploring and navigating the environment is left up to the user.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Please note that it would be foolish in the extreme to rely on this
|
|
as your only navigation aid! Make sure you read this entire document
|
|
before using the app for navigation so that you know the drawbacks
|
|
and shortcomings.)
|
|
|
|
## App usage
|
|
|
|
### Main screen
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The main screen shows the direction arrow, the distance to the waypoint,
|
|
and the name of the selected waypoint.
|
|
|
|
It also shows the status of the GPS fix in the colour of the arrow:
|
|
|
|
* Red: no GPS fix at all
|
|
* Yellow: GPS location, but no GPS course (probably you're moving too slowly);
|
|
in this case the direction of travel comes from the compass bearing instead
|
|
of the GPS course, but note that the compass is unreliable
|
|
* White: GPS fix includes both location and course, and the GPS course is used
|
|
to determine the direction of travel
|
|
|
|
### Select a waypoint
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Press the middle button (`BTN2`) to enter the menu, choose a waypoint using
|
|
the up/down arrows, and use the middle button again to select a waypoint and
|
|
return to the main screen.
|
|
|
|
### Add a waypoint
|
|
|
|
Press the middle button (`BTN2`) to enter the menu, and select the "+ Here"
|
|
option. This will add a waypoint named "WP*n*" marking your current location,
|
|
where "*n*" is the next unused number.
|
|
|
|
### Delete a waypoint
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Select a waypoint using the menu. Once the waypoint is selected and you're
|
|
back on the main screen, press either the top or bottom button (`BTN1` or
|
|
`BTN3`). Confirm that you want to delete the waypoint with the middle
|
|
button (`BTN2`).
|
|
|
|
## Waypoint editor
|
|
|
|
With the Bangle.js app loader connected to the watch, find the
|
|
Waypointer Moto app and click on the floppy disk icon:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This will load up the waypoint editor:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### Add a waypoint
|
|
|
|
Use the map to find your destination. Clicking on the map will
|
|
populate the latitude/longitude input boxes with the coordinates
|
|
of the point you clicked on. Type in a name for the waypoint and
|
|
click "Add Waypoint". Click "Upload" to send the updated list of
|
|
waypoints to the watch.
|
|
|
|
### Edit a waypoint
|
|
|
|
Click on the pencil icon next to the waypoint you wish to edit.
|
|
This will remove the waypoint from the list and populate the
|
|
input boxes.
|
|
Edit the coordinates by hand, or by clicking on the map. Edit
|
|
the name if you want. Click "Add Waypoint" to save the waypoint
|
|
back to the list. Click "Upload" to send the updated list of
|
|
waypoints to the watch.
|
|
|
|
### Delete a waypoint
|
|
|
|
Click on the pencil icon next to the waypoint you wish to edit.
|
|
This will remove the waypoint from the list.
|
|
Click "Upload" to send the updated list of waypoints to the watch.
|
|
|
|
## Mounting the watch on the bike
|
|
|
|
There is a 3d-printable "artificial wrist" which will fit over a 7/8"
|
|
handlebar and allow the watch strap to tighten up.
|
|
Alternatively, in a pinch you can strap the watch around a glove or a sponge
|
|
or anything else that will pad out the space so that the watch is a tight
|
|
fit.
|
|
|
|
The 3d-printed part should be a snug fit on the handlebar so that it does
|
|
not flop around. If it is too loose, line it with a layer or 2 of tape.
|
|
|
|
[Download the handlebar mount STL »](handlebar-mount.stl)
|
|
|
|
[Download the handlebar mount FreeCAD source »](handlebar-mount.FCStd)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Comparison to Way Pointer
|
|
|
|
Compared to the original Way Pointer app, Waypointer Moto:
|
|
|
|
* removes the numerical display of compass bearing
|
|
* makes the distance text bigger
|
|
* uses a higher-resolution arrow icon
|
|
* has a visual indication of the GPS status (the arrow colour)
|
|
* uses GPS course instead of compass bearing
|
|
* has OpenStreetMap integration in the waypoint editor
|
|
* uses Bangle.js menus to select waypoints instead of custom UI
|
|
* can add new waypoints from inside the app without requiring a blank slot
|
|
* can delete waypoints from inside the app without needing the PC
|
|
* still uses the same `waypoints.json` file
|
|
|
|
## Gotchas
|
|
|
|
Waypointer Moto derives your current heading from the GPS course
|
|
rather than the compass, whenever GPS course is available.
|
|
The compass bearing is based on the angle the watch is held, but
|
|
the GPS course is based on the direction it's *travelling*. If the
|
|
watch is not aligned with the direction of travel of the vehicle
|
|
then the arrow will not point in the correct direction.
|
|
|
|
When travelling too slowly, there is no GPS course information, so the
|
|
app reverts to using the compass (and draws it in yellow), but
|
|
the compass is not very reliable, and I
|
|
have especially found it not to be reliable when placed on a motorcyle,
|
|
maybe because of all the metal in the immediate vicinity. So if
|
|
the arrow is not drawn in white, then you should probably not trust
|
|
it. If you're not sure, just ride in a straight line until the arrow
|
|
turns white again.
|
|
|
|
## Possible Future Enhancements
|
|
|
|
- "routes" with multiple waypoints; automatically step from one
|
|
waypoint to the next when you get near to it
|
|
- some way to manually input coordinates directly on the watch
|
|
- make the text & arrow more legible in direct sunlight
|
|
- integrate a charging connector into the handlebar mount
|
|
- upstream the map integration to the other waypoint apps
|
|
|
|
## Acknowledgements
|
|
|
|
Waypointer Moto is a project by [James Stanley](https://incoherency.co.uk/). It is a derivative of [Adam Schmalhofer's](https://github.com/adamschmalhofer) Way Pointer app, which is in turn a derivative of
|
|
[jeffmer's](https://github.com/jeffmer/JeffsBangleAppsDev) GPS
|
|
Navigation and Compass Navigation apps.
|