I want to make some sort of navigation aid for me when I go diving. I use a compass at the moment, but it is pretty easy to get lost and worrying about this takes away from my enjoyment. I have 2 ideas so far and I am hoping some of you may have some suggestions on which would be the easiest to do and where to start with the design. I have some experience with programming AVR microcontrollers.
Idea 1/ Something that tracks the direction and distance I swim and will then calculate a return journey when needed. Problems to overcome with this would be that currents will effect distance and speed travelled. Maybe an accellerometer and a digital compass would be enough to work all this out?
Idea 2/ Some sort of beacon system. Place a beacon where the dive starts and then have a handheld device that will point to the beacon and display distance. I like this idea, but how I would do this? I am not sure.
Any ideas, thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Idea 1/ Something that tracks the direction and distance I swim and will then calculate a return journey when needed. Problems to overcome with this would be that currents will effect distance and speed travelled. Maybe an accellerometer and a digital compass would be enough to work all this out?
Idea 2/ Some sort of beacon system. Place a beacon where the dive starts and then have a handheld device that will point to the beacon and display distance. I like this idea, but how I would do this? I am not sure.
Any ideas, thoughts would be greatly appreciated.