About

Come build your own state-of-the-art electromechanical ferry tracking apparatus: FerryClock; a self-setting analog wall clock with additional dials and lights to indicate the real-time position, heading, and docking status of the two Bainbridge-Seattle ferryboats. It should prove ferry useful in your own home. Additional routes coming soon…

From a kit, we will assemble, wire and solder the gadgets. At home, you will ‘launch’ your FerryClock by connecting it to your wireless network (internet). The kit includes everything you’ll need: laser-cut parts, motors, lights, wires, hardware, microcontroller, USB cable, ‘atomic’ clock mechanism, hands, battery, and literature.

How It Works:

A proprietary algorithm (conceived by a member of the BIHS robotics team) running in the ‘cloud’ continually compares the up-to-the-minute (every 15s) latitude/longitude (GPS) location of a real ferryboat (via the WSF API) against a reference path to generate a precise sailing progress value. A small, Arduino-compatible microcontroller within FerryClock connects to the FERRY TEMPO server over WiFi to receive fresh data, controlling the lights and motors accordingly.

Details: 

• Requires a wireless internet connection to operate.
• No previous soldering skills required.
• Materials Fee of $95 is included in the price of class.
• Skill Level: Universal
• Ages 14+ Welcome

Instructor Bio: Matt Carrig is a multi-disciplinary designer. To read more about Ferries Over Winslow, click here.