Boat path invention

[Bulldog]

With all of the boat path talk on ball of spray lately I was wondering how long until a boat company comes up with a system like a modern vehicle park assist screens with the virtual lines for curbs and vehicle width. If done right it would line up with the drive guides of the course on a heads up display on the windshield. Any opinions??

[chris_logan]

You mean like the gun sight on Centurions? Don't need it to be more complicated than that do we?

[Waternut]

The gun sight is more like a verification that are you correct as you pass the boat guides. It's a pass or fail system. I think what @bulldog is referring to are angled lines on the windshield that align with all the boat guides and will tell you whether you are correct at any given time. I gave that a lot of consideration a while back but quickly realized that this concept is dependent on driver height and angle of lean.

 

I do agree with @chris_logan though. Boats these days track so well that keeping it centered is very easy. The 2000 SN we use in the course with nuetral steering...not so much. That thing wiggles all over the place.

[PJ]

Step one in new Centurion water readiness prep... remove "gun sight"

[LeonL]

Neutral steering? Easy fix to prevent "wiggles".

[swc5150]

Our MC dealership said they're already working on such a system for the new PS.

[SkiKolb]

I have wondered if there would be a way to put a gps puck on top of the pylon, then send that info to a computer screen to see how much deviation there really is?

[Wish]

I would think any auto steering would be reactive vs proactive aka counter blocking etc.. Thought cruise control systems would be that way to but seems not the case so maybe they can make it.

[klindy]

@Wish by design it would be reactive. However sampling data at a rate the rates typical for these systems (1000x a second and more easily) would be far more "proactive" than any human.

[jayski]

Already was in the works a few years ago, been in the boat while it drove itself with and without a skier...pretty cool

[ski6jones]

$$$$$$$$. Why do boats keeep getting more expensive?

[Stevie Boy]

Technology, Materials, Labour Costs, Overheads and Development, on top of that, they do not sell enough, if you compare the number of boats sold compared to cars, there's your answer, I am still amazed they can sell a Wakeboard Boat for approx $160,000 or have I got that wrong ?

[ski6jones]

Sorry @Stevie Boy‌, I was being sarcastic. While this would be a cool feature on a new boat if it worked it will just further drive up the cost (along with all the things you mentioned).

[E_T]

@Stevie Boy a new loaded GMC Denali is 75k... its all relative, we are just the last ones to get the pay raise.

[lpskier]

I think that if the boat goes straight down the middle with minimal deviation from center line, scores will drop. The best drivers (that I have talked to) don't strive to drive the center line; they drive to enhance the skiing experience. Do not equate enhancing the skiing experience with banging someone through their harder passes. You may equate it, however, with driving a path that compliments the skier while at the same time fully complying with all applicable rules, letter and spirit.

[Horton]

@PJ‌ I think the the Gun Sight really helps my path. Same idea as a zip tie on a open bow rail.

[skibug]

@Wish, ZO is reactive. Skier load input=rpm change. There is no way any system could be proactive if load or direction deviation comes into play. An auto pilot system would certainly not feel as good as an experienced driver. I know that my driving technique incorporates proactive adjustments; but, they are not the same proactive adjustments, ball to ball or pass to pass, by design. Depending on the skiers pull off the ball, release from the boat, load behind the boat all plays into the proactive driving measures taken at the next ball. You have to be ahead of the skier; but, how far ahead can change through the pass.

 

All that said, just like ZO (or Perfect Pass); everyone would have to assimilate and adapt.

[kstateskier]

@Horton‌ what is the zip tie idea on an open bow rail? please explain.

[Horton]

@kstateskier‌ with an older open bow Boo there was a chrome rail around the gunnel. You can put a zip tie on the rail as a marker like the gun site on a Centurion. Works great to help with path.

[kstateskier]

I have an 04 Boo with the bow gunnel rails. I might have to give that a try and see if it helps. Thanks

[DaveD]

Taking Horton’s zip tie idea to the next level, it seems like it would be relatively easy to put a laser at each end of the lake pointing at each other down the center of the lake. Sensors on the front of the boat would monitor the position that the laser hits the boat. A simple series of LED lights (green in the middle, yellow to each side, and red to the far right and left) could be put in above the steering wheel that would show the driver which way they are off center and to what extent. This would give the driver constant feedback on position instead of them having to wait for the boat guides. If the position lights are recorded for each pass, it might be used to give quicker feedback to the judges for deciding on re-rides.

[Horton]

@DaveD‌ love your idea but I really do not want more more stinking piece of electronics in water skiing.

[thager]

I like the idea of lasers but @Horton is already vertically challenged!

[DaveD]

For you John, we’ll replace the laser with a string that you can line the zip tie up with.

[ForrestGump]

Not real hip to the idea of a laser pointing down the lake where my eyes are also pointed while behind the wheel.

[ForrestGump]

Not a boat, but an acquaintence from when I raced cars was blinded two years ago in a violent car crash at the track at 175mph. He'd always wanted to build a car for Bonneville, so another set of friends built a trike for him to run at Bonneville. Solo. It uses some commercial grade gps and electronics to provide him auditory feedback to his path in relationship to a plotted end point. He's so far hit speeds over 75 mph and has been able to drive a path that has ended within feet of the plotted end point.

[Horton]

I am sure the tech can be safe but hope we wait till is is user friendly and semi affordable before it becomes a thing.

 

Imagine the nightmare of the first days of PP or ZO x 100

[Chet]

Personally this is something I can't wait for.

It is hard to imagine getting the same pull over and over again.

It is also hard to imagine getting the same and equal tournament experience boat to boat and round to round.

I imagine an automated system may cost me a few balls initially but I think with time I will learn how it responds and adapt accordingly.

To always get a version of Chad, Will, Chris , etc.. would be amazing.

I think this would be one of the most game changing innovations ever.

It might be difficult at first but with time I think I would wonder how I ever did without it.

Come on those of you working on this I know your out there and I'm not getting younger.

I would love to be in the generation that skis on the first fully automated ski boat.

 

 

[ForrestGump]

Every time someone brings up the idea of an automated boat path, I cringe.

[thager]

Put another nail in the casket. The average Joe can't afford this sport now! Who's going to train and monitor the person watching the driving, and the person monitoring the person driving. When will we add checklists and a jumpseat? Also going to need .........YADA-YADA-YADA...

[mwetskier]

re laser at each end of the course its a federal felony to shoot a laser pointer at commercial jet as it can easily interfere with the pilots vision. as shane suggested the boat driver might have similar concerns.

[DefectiveDave]

The cheapest way would probably be RTK GPS because it is an entirely self contained receiver without any need for lasers or other stuff. Most of the time this approach can give you absolute accuracy down to around 3cm if you are in a good coverage area, but it requires local broadcasting survey stations. The good thing is that the coverage is getting better and the costs are coming down:

 

http://gpsworld.com/finally-a-list-of-public-rtk-base-stations-in-the-u-s/

 

http://swiftnav.com/piksi.html

 

I even have an active station near me in nowhere, NC thanks to the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources. I see no reason why this couldn't be used to guide a boat with a steer-by-wire system. I also expect it will become more ubiquitous in the next 5 years with the increasing availability of the L5 GPS band.

 

Now what if the course moves slightly due to wind or whatnot? Then we probably need a machine vision approach, which might be even cheaper and easier.