Mr. V – The Orange Garage https://theorangegarage.com Maker and Artist in Kent, Ohio Tue, 19 May 2026 05:23:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 189143336 Scout Power Savings https://theorangegarage.com/scout-power-savings/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 20:09:56 +0000 https://theorangegarage.com/?p=917

Been working on power usage this week with excellent progress. Was able to get consumption low enough for 10ish days with a 6000 mah lithium battery.

Tested with a paging app that displays .bmp files in order. I put a freely distributable first aid pdf that I converted on the sdcard to view. It works great. I’ll do some better processing of the pdf to bmp prices, but it’s going to be included on Scout. I’ll publish my conversion process and you can put your own stuff on there too

]]> 917 Scout Dev Update: What’s Working, What’s Left? https://theorangegarage.com/scout-dev-update-whats-working-whats-left/ Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:19:42 +0000 https://theorangegarage.com/?p=785

Scout is your mapping companion for hiking, biking, and exploring. Scout is readable in full sun; Sips battery power; and never needs an app, Wi-Fi signal, or login to work.

So … what’s the current status on Scout?
I’ve finalized the feature list and am on track to send prototypes to a few trusted beta testers in late August, with a launch on Indiegogo in late October. I’m aiming for 400–500 pre-orders, with a target ship date of March 2026.

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✅ What’s Working

  • SD-card map tiles
  • Location Reticle & breadcrumb trail
  • Live clock overlay
  • Optimized partial-refresh logic
  • Solid and fast GPS
  • Saves zoom & last-known position on power loss
  • GPX route loading

🔧 What’s Left to Build

  • GPX track recording of breadcrumbs
  • INI-file settings (refresh behavior, movement thresholds)
  • Power-management refinements
  • Mode-switch framework
  • Final case design
  • UI refinement
  • Custom, Optimized Map Tiles

Feedback or Questions? Yes, please!

]]> 785 Testing partial refresh at Mogadore Reservoir https://theorangegarage.com/testing-partial-refresh-at-mogadore-reservoir/ Thu, 26 Jun 2025 19:34:15 +0000 https://theorangegarage.com/?p=741 The GPS location reticle now updates via distance traveled (3m atm). If the reticle will be drawn too close to the edge of the screen, the entire screen will be redrawn with the location in the center. Also it was a beautiful day 🙂

]]> 741 Saving location between power outages https://theorangegarage.com/saving-location-between-power-outages/ Thu, 26 Jun 2025 19:27:10 +0000 https://theorangegarage.com/?p=739 Scout can save your most recent location between power interruptions or off there is no gps signal. Scout displays your last known location centered on the map until you have gps signal again.

There are new “Mobile Atlas” maps to test as well as the 1st case draft.

More soon!

]]> 739 Refined breadcrumbs over a test map https://theorangegarage.com/refined-breadcrumbs-over-a-test-map/ Fri, 30 May 2025 19:55:20 +0000 https://theorangegarage.com/?p=676 Making breadcrumbs with random motion. If the random trail gets too close to an edge, it resets in the center of the screen.

]]> 676 More partial refresh with breadcrumbs https://theorangegarage.com/more-partial-refresh-with-breadcrumbs/ Thu, 29 May 2025 21:29:39 +0000 https://theorangegarage.com/?p=673 Testing what will become the breadcrumbs functionality over the map.

]]> 673 Testing partial refresh https://theorangegarage.com/testing-partial-refresh/ Thu, 29 May 2025 01:58:43 +0000 https://theorangegarage.com/?p=653 Doing some test code on the epaper display via Conrad’s Game of Life.

]]> 653 Scout Status Update https://theorangegarage.com/scout-status-update/ Fri, 23 May 2025 18:15:57 +0000 https://theorangegarage.com/?p=442

Working Demo

Scout currently is in the “Working Demo” phase.

Scout can quickly lock on to GPS satellites for time and location. Every set number of seconds the entire screen refreshes, centering the current location on the screen, drawing the location indicator, and updating the time. You can change the zoom level which also initiates a screen refresh.

I’m currently reorganizing the code preparing for more efficient refreshes, and refreshing the location based on distance moved.

I’m also processing large amounts of map tiles to test and see what info looks best at what zoom levels.

Watch the YouTube Video to see Scout in action!

Most Recent Scout Prototype – Map Centered on GPS Location

]]> 442 Early Scout Display Tests https://theorangegarage.com/early-scout-display-tests/ Fri, 23 May 2025 17:10:47 +0000 https://theorangegarage.com/?p=420
The Scout Mapping Device Prototype

Static Map Concept

Early Clock Look

Boot Screen

Concept

Testing Full Image Display

Concept Art

Adventure Awaits

Paths

Breadcrumbs concept

Initial Screen Tests

Here’s a selection of concept art for the Scout mapping computer. This was mostly to test some graphic design elements I was kicking around and see what they look like on the new display.

I’m very happy with the breadcrumbs and the general “crispness” of the display. I’m settling on the “Toner” map tiles for development. The simple, high-contrast looks real nice.

I plan to use OSM mapping data to create custom maps with information that is helpful to offgrid biking/hiking and other outdoor adventurers.

I’m omitting the “Boot Screen” – it isn’t necessary. I plan to display the last location on boot while waiting for GPS (which is quick).

Next on the todo list: hook up GPS and read data!

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