Real–Time Boat Tracking for MIT Sailing
February 2004 — June 2005
Sailing is an enjoyable sport for sailors, but not quite as enjoyable as a spectator sport. Watching races
as spectators and coaches, it can be difficult to determine which boats are winning and how well they are sailing. GPS and radio technology
can track sailboats in real time, displaying races on-screen so that spectators can easily observe the race and competitors can improve
their skills.
The RiverRat project designed hardware and software to track MIT sailboats on the Charles River. Recording
and playback of sailing tracks allowed for post-race analysis of tactics, strategy, and performance. Lightweight and robust, the tracking
system is designed to follow up to 30 boats on the river, helping increase spectator involvement and serving as a tool for instructing
sailing to both novices and advanced sailors. Tested at the MIT Sailing Pavilion, the RiverRat system has made the sport more accessible,
safe, and easy to teach.
Student Participants:
Claudio Cairoli
James Modisette
Douglas deCouto
Alissondra Springmann
Claudio Brasca
Additional Information:
http://icampus.mit.edu/projects/RiverRat.shtml
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