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The buoy is composed of components very similar to those found in a drone. We primarily selected M5Stack components for their modularity, rich functionality, and the quality of the software libraries used to control them. Autonomous GPS buoys come in two levels: Standard buoy, controlled by a joystick (long-range LoRa protocol) for one to eight buoys, with local operation on the body of water Advanced Buoy, controlled by a mobile phone application, requiring an internet connection for each buoy and a ground station, allowing for more advanced functionalities, such as regatta course management. Our recommendation is to start with Standard Buoys. Upgrading to Advanced Buoys has little impact on the buoys themselves. However, it does require the installation of an additional ground station and an internet connection. Components for a Standard Buoy M5Stack Components - Heart of the Buoy Core2 ESP32 IoT Development Kit V1.1 $46.90 Extension Port Module for Core2 $6.95 GNSS Module with Barometric Pressure, IMU, Magnetometer Sensors (NEO-M9N, BMP280, BMI270, BMM150) $45 Goplus2 DC Motor and Servo Driver Module (STM32F0) $15.5 Voltmeter Unit (ADS1115) $19.5 LoRaE220-920 unit $33 Unbuckled Grove Cable 50 cm - 2 pcs $1.95 Subtotal Heart of Buoy $169 Other Components U01 Brushless Underwater Thruster/Propeller/Propulsion, 12V~16V, 2Kg, with Bidirectional ESC Control for ROV Boat Choose: CW $33.14 U01 Brushless Underwater Thruster/Propeller/Propulsion, 12V~16V, 2Kg, with Bidirectional ESC Control for ROV Boat Choose: CCW $33.14 Antenna $22.13 90-degree USB-C cables €7.98 90-degree USB-C port €7.99 ESC cables €9.99 Buck €9 2 * Stainless steel screws M4 - 22 mm Lipo or LiFe battery - 4S 4000 mAh Additional components for an Advanced Buoy M5Stack Components - Heart of the Buoy For an advanced buoy, the above component, the LoRaE220-920 unit, is no longer necessary and is replaced by the module below: SIM7080G CAT-M/NB-IoT Unit $36.90 SIM card €15

On the agenda for this session: DF95s and IOMs on a course with 3 autonomous buoys in a good breeze — 15 to 20 knots of wind and a nice swell. 🎯 Session objective To validate the behavior of autonomous buoys in conditions of sustained wind and real swell. Do they stay in position? Do they respond correctly to the conditions? That's what we wanted to verify visually that day. 📡 Embedded technology A GPS was installed on two DF95s (one with an A rig and one with a B rig) to precisely track their trajectories and analyze their courses. This is a first step towards a more detailed analysis of the boats' performance and behavior in regattas. You will see in the video below the explanation of the replay capability, for buoys and for rc boats You will see as well the monitoring in Grafana of 30 observables to understand if the buoy is at its limit 🌊 Today's conditions • Wind: 15 to 20 knots • Site: Bois Joalland, Saint-Nazaire (SNOS) • Boats: DF95 and IOM • Equipment: 3 self-contained buoys, 1 GPS unit on two boats

Free STL file · Compatible with all classes including DF95, IOM, Class M, RG65 3D printing opens up new possibilities for RC sailors: customization, reduced cost, and parts available very quickly. We have modeled a series of bowsie optimized for radio-controlled sails, with an effective line-locking system on both sides. Successfully tested on DF95, Class M and rg65 in regatta conditions — reliable locking, quick adjustments, good resistance to stress. The bowsies printed in orange PETG RECOMMENDED SETTINGS Click on the image below to directly access the stl file or the Bambu Studio print profile. PETG is recommended for its resistance to moisture and UV rays. ASA is an interesting alternative for intensive outdoor use. Print result of bowsies

During our regatta on April 12, 2026, we deployed a complete course consisting of 6 autonomous GPS buoys on the waters of Choisy-le-Roi. No more cumbersome logistics or safety boat trips to anchor or adjust the course: everything was controlled remotely, simply from a smartphone. During more than 6.5 hours of sailing, we were able to adjust the buoy positions according to wind variations, ensuring a well-oriented course for the race. At the end of the day, the buoys still had between 40 and 60% battery remaining. This video shows you how we managed the buoys throughout the regatta.

A modular platform perfectly suited to marine projects Autonomous GPS buoys require robust, compact hardware capable of reliable operation in demanding environments. M5Stack modules emerged as the ideal solution thanks to their modular architecture, which allows for the rapid assembly of a complete system without complex soldering or fragile electronics. Key strengths: Compact and robust format   , ideal for integration into a waterproof buoy. Stackable modules   , allowing the addition of GPS, radio communication, battery, sensors, without complexity. A coherent ecosystem   , where everything is designed to work together. Clear documentation and an active community   facilitate development and troubleshooting. Reliability is essential for navigation and safety. Our buoys must transmit their position in real time for several hours. M5Stack products demonstrated remarkable stability during our real-world tests. What we particularly appreciated: A fast and relatively accurate GPS   is essential for positioning course markers. However, an RTK GPS would be more precise. Efficient power management   , allowing for extended battery life. Reliable connectivity   (LoRa, ESP-NOW) is essential for remote monitoring. Accelerated development thanks to compatibility with the Arduino ecosystem The firmware for our buoys is open source, and M5Stack greatly simplifies development thanks to: to native Arduino support   , for clean and maintainable code. to ready-made examples and libraries   , reducing development time. This combination allowed us to move from the idea to the functional prototype relatively easily, and then to optimize the system to achieve the reliability necessary for use in a club. A choice validated by the community and by the Innovation Contest 2025 Our project won   2nd place in the   M5Stack Global Innovation Contest 2025.   Since then, several clubs have contacted us to build their own buoys. An open solution for the radio-controlled sailing community We publish our code as open source so that every club can: Build your own buoys. Adapt the system to your needs. Contribute to the improvement of the project.

We have just finalized a joystick for piloting and moving the buoys. Until now, the buoys and the Course were piloted exclusively with a mobile phone and an integrated dashboard. This is very comprehensive and practical, with advanced features such as one-click course setup and repositioning, and buoy visualization on a map. However, this dashboard requires all buoys to be connected to the internet. Therefore, we developed a joystick that can operate in two ways: In addition to the Dashboard on the mobile phone, for even more precise visual positioning on the water (offset of 2 meters to the right, ...) Operating autonomously with 1 to 8 buoys, using a local communication protocol that does not rely on the internet and a range of several hundred meters (thanks to the LoRa protocol) Joystick pour piloter une à 8 bouées, les positionner au bon endroit, puis les faire rentrer à leur position Home. La Bouée se déplace en fonction des commandes envoyée par le Joystick, avant de se stabiliser et de rester en position stationnaire le temps de l'entrainement ou de la régate Petit aperçu de nos 7 Bouées en cours de mise en route, sur le lac de la Sourderie

Autonomous GPS buoys come in two levels: Standard buoy , controlled by a joystick (long-range LoRa protocol) for one to eight buoys, with local operation on the body of water Advanced Buoy , controlled by a mobile phone application, but also by a joystick to fine-tune positioning visually on the water. The joystick is similar for both standard and advanced buoys. The only difference is its communication protocol: LoRa in standard mode and ESP-Now in advanced mode. Joystick for a Standard Buoy M5Stack Components Atom Joystick $30 LoRaE220-920 unit $33 Unbuckled Grove Cable 5 cm - 10 pcs $4 Total Joystick $67 Joystick for an Advanced Buoy For an advanced buoy, the above component Unit LoRaE220-920 is no longer required. Atom Joystick $30 Total Joystick $30

Step 1 consists of preparing the M5Stack Core2 module. There's practically nothing to do as it comes pre-assembled with its screen, battery, and microSD card reader. All that's left is to format the 32GB microSD card to FAT32 and insert it into the card reader . Wi-Fi connection and time setting In order for the module to synchronize to the exact time and allow retrieval of data recorded on the microSD card via Wi-Fi , without having to remove it, you must enter your Wi-Fi network information. Download the file below, fill it in with the username (SSID) and password of your Wi-Fi access point , then copy it to the root of the microSD card . Step 2 involves installing the software inside the M5Stack Core2 module. To easily install it on the M5Stack Core2 module, you can use the M5Stack Burner utility which allows you to download and install the software very easily. Step 1 — Download and open M5Burner Download M5Burner for your system (Windows/macOS/Linux). Unzip the archive and open the M5Burner application. Tip: On macOS, if a security alert appears on first opening, go to System Settings → Security & Privacy and allow the opening. Step 2 — Connect the Core2 Connect the Core2 to the computer using a USB-C cable between the computer and the Core2. Step 3 — Load the Anemometer firmware into M5Burner Select "CORE2 & TOUGH" from the left column Find the Core2 / OpenSailingRC-display profile in the list, then click on it. Select the latest available version from the list in the top right corner. At a minimum, version 1.0.2. Step 4 — “Burn” Settings Click on Burn (Engrave/Flash). Port: verify that this is the Core2 port. Speed: Leave the default value (e.g., 921600). If it fails, try 460800. Erase: Check Erase Flash (delete) if you are reinstalling from scratch. Start the engraving process. Wait for the success message. Tip: If burning fails, see Troubleshooting. Changing the speed and using the Erase option often resolves the issue. Step 5 — First Start-up Once flashed, the Core2 restarts either automatically or after a power cycle: The screen displays a home screen, and it leaves traces on the serial port. Troubleshooting (FAQ) The port does not appear in M5Burner. Try a different USB-C (data) cable , a different USB port , or a powered hub . Install/authorize the USB drivers (CP210x or CH34x/CH9102). Restart the computer if necessary. Burn fails / timeout / “Failed to connect”. In M5Burner: check Erase , lower the speed (e.g. 460800), try again. Unplug/replug the USB. On some computers, holding down the Atom S3 button while plugging it in forces flash mode. macOS is blocking the application/driver. Open System Settings → Security & Privacy and then Allow app/driver. Reconnect the cable. The Serial Monitor is empty. Check the correct port and the baud rate 115200 . Close any other tools that might be using the port (Arduino IDE, PlatformIO, another Serial Monitor).

Step 1 involves connecting the M5Stack AtomS3 with the voltmeter and the anemometer motor. Step 2 involves installing the software inside the M5Stack AtomS3 module. To easily install it on the M5Stack AtomS3 module, you can use the M5Stack Burner utility which allows you to download and install the software very easily. Step 1 — Download and open M5Burner Download M5Burner for your system (Windows/macOS/Linux). Unzip the archive and open the M5Burner application. Tip: On macOS, if a security alert appears on first opening, go to System Settings → Security & Privacy and allow the opening. Step 2 — Connect the AtomS3 Connect the AtomS3 to the computer using a USB-C cable between the computer and the AtomS3. Step 3 — Load the Anemometer firmware into M5Burner Select "ATOMS3" in the left column Find the OpenSailingRC-Anemometer profile in the list, then click on it. Select the latest available version from the list in the top right corner. At a minimum, version 1.0.0. Step 4 — “Burn” Settings Click on Burn (Engrave/Flash). Port: verify that this is the AtomS3 port. Speed: Leave the default value (e.g., 921600). If it fails, try 460800. Erase: Check Erase Flash (delete) if you are reinstalling from scratch. Start the engraving process. Wait for the success message. Tip: If burning fails, see Troubleshooting. Changing the speed and using the Erase option often resolves the issue. Step 5 — First Start-up Once flashed, the AtomS3 restarts either automatically or after a power cycle: The screen displays a home screen, and it leaves traces on the serial port. Troubleshooting (FAQ) The port does not appear in M5Burner. Try a different USB-C (data) cable , a different USB port , or a powered hub . Install/authorize the USB drivers (CP210x or CH34x/CH9102). Restart the computer if necessary. Burn fails / timeout / “Failed to connect”. In M5Burner: check Erase , lower the speed (e.g. 460800), try again. Unplug/replug the USB. On some computers, holding down the Atom S3 button while plugging it in forces flash mode. macOS is blocking the application/driver. Open System Settings → Security & Privacy and then Allow app/driver. Reconnect the cable. The Serial Monitor is empty. Check the correct port and the baud rate 115200 . Close any other tools that might be using the port (Arduino IDE, PlatformIO, another Serial Monitor).

Find all the photos from the Class M regatta on 16/11/2025 at the CNCR, in Choisy Le Roy. We used three autonomous GPS buoys, two for the starting line and one as a leeward gate. They performed well, except for one whose computer shut down in the early afternoon, after several stable hours. Analysis of the problem to follow.

Step 1 consists of preparing the M5Stack AtomS3 lite module with the Atom v2 GPS. Simply place the Atom S3 on the Atom v2 GPS. Regarding food: For testing purposes, the module can be powered via USB-C. Next, connect the Adafruit PowerBoost 1000C module by connecting the red wire to 5V and the black wire from the Grove connector to GND. Connecting the LiPo battery to the Adafruit module (being careful to observe the correct polarity) will power the AtomS3 lite module. It is possible, as in the photo below, to position a magnetic switch to be able to power/cut off the circuit, while keeping a completely waterproof housing. Step 2 involves installing the software inside the M5Stack AtomS3 module. To easily install it on the M5Stack AtomS3 module, you can use the M5Stack Burner utility which allows you to download and install the software very easily. Step 1 — Download and open M5Burner Download M5Burner for your system (Windows/macOS/Linux). Unzip the archive and open the M5Burner application. Tip: On macOS, if a security alert appears on first opening, go to System Settings → Security & Privacy and allow the opening. Step 2 — Connect the AtomS3 Lite Connect the Atom S3 Lite to the computer using a USB-C cable between the computer and the Atom. Step 3 — Load the BoatGPS firmware into M5Burner Select "ATOMS3" in the left column Find the AtomS3 / OpenSailingRC-BoatGPS profile in the list, then click on it. Select the latest available version from the list in the top right corner. At least version 1.0.3. Step 4 — “Burn” Settings Click on Burn (Engrave/Flash). Port: verify that this is the AtomS3 port. Speed: Leave the default value (e.g., 921600). If it fails, try 460800. Start the burning process by pressing Burn. Wait for the success message. Tip: If burning fails, see Troubleshooting. Changing the speed and using the Erase option often resolves the issue. Step 5 — First Start-up Once flashed, the AtomS3 restarts either automatically or after a power cycle: The LED on the AtomS3 Lite button displays: in blue during the startup procedure highlighted in yellow during satellite acquisition. The indicator turns green as soon as the module has acquired enough satellites. and it leaves traces on the serial port. To view information (speed, boat orientation) and retrieve GPS tracks, you use the OpenSailingRC-Display module, which displays the information and stores the GPS data on an SD card. From this GPS information, you can create a replay of your radio-controlled boats' navigation.

The first version of the anemometer is finished. Positioned on one of the autonomous buoys, it allows the wind speed on the body of water to be measured and transmitted to the remote display, which is located at the level of the radio control of the boats. Anémomètre accroché à la Bouée autonome Les données sont transmises sans fil (protocole ESP-Now) à l'afficheur qui se trouve sur la radio commande The wind speed display is shown in real time to compare boat speeds to wind speed. Pressing the "Record" button saves the data to an SD card for later viewing. On top, the anemometer has a magnetic switch, which allows it to be turned on and off without any sealing issues. When opened, the anemometer provides access to the various components, including its battery and USB charger. Below, the anemometer in real-world conditions, on the water, in photos and video: