Oct 10, 2022

One quick download delivers IoT-level interaction with analog vessel sensor data.

AIRMAR® Technology Corporation, a world leader in ultrasonic transducers and Chirp technology, is pleased to announce that their SmartBoat® system, which provides access to and control of onboard sensor data, is now Signal K compatible. With a free Signal K download from Airmar.com to the SmartBoat module, onboard sensor data, engine data, and data from any device on the network is received in their native protocols and converted by the module to Signal K marine data format. Signal K makes the data compatible with mobile devices, laptops, and other internet-based tools, allowing boaters to leverage apps and other technologies that enable further visualization, use and customization of the data.

“Signal K has a very enthusiastic user and developer community,” explains Jennifer Matsis, Airmar’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “It is a format that was developed by boaters, for boaters. And because Signal K is open source, boaters who thrive on the freedom and creativity open source provides will be delighted to find that SmartBoat modules deliver the data from their onboard sensors, already converted to Signal K and ready to be customized for own sensor management style.”

SmartBoat modules were developed with the ability to convert analog sensor data with any protocol into NMEA 2000® for system-wide data monitoring and sensor control, including the configuration of alerts, automation, and more. Adding Signal K compatibility enables all that same data to be converted to Signal K as well and shared wirelessly or via ethernet connection. With built-in Wi-Fi, ethernet and NMEA (0183 and 2000) connections, a SmartBoat module provides a one-device Signal K solution, eliminating the need for multiple, expensive translation modules, engine conversion boxes and cabling. This makes it the most compact and cost-effective method of implementing Signal K.