Capsule Radar — Marine · Live AIS Ship Radar

A glowing round desk radar on a tilt stand that plots real ships around you from a live AIS feed — magnetic snap-on back, built-in alert speaker, flashed from your browser in a minute. No AMS; assembles with 6 magnets + 3 tiny screws.

🚢 Capsule Radar — Marine

A polished desk gadget that turns the Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-1.75 (round 466×466 AMOLED, capacitive touch) into a live AIS ship radar. It pulls nearby vessels over WiFi and plots them on a glowing radar scope centred on your home, harbour, or a spot by a navigable river — useful by the coast and inland. Marine sibling of Capsule Radar (the aircraft version).

Pick the Standard version (no case) or the -G (GPS, also fits). Avoid the "-B" — it comes with a protective case that won't fit; you'd have to remove it. (The separate "1.75C" is a different board — not this one.)

✨ Features

• Live vessel traffic on an animated radar scope with a rotating sweep + coastline map.
• Ship glyphs rotated by course (COG), fading trails; anchored/moored vessels as quiet dots.
• Tap a vessel → name, distance, speed (SOG), course, heading, nav status, destination.
• Swipe between Radar / List / Stats; on-screen range button (2 / 5 / 10 / 20 / 40 nm); themes.
• Adjustable tilt stand to angle the scope just right.
• Magnetic snap-on back — fast, tool-light assembly.
• Built-in speaker for zone / proximity alert pings (e.g. a vessel entering the harbour).

🖨️ Printing — no AMS / no multi-material needed

Each part prints in a single colour, so any printer works (I used a black case + orange stand).

• Parts: front case/bezel, magnetic back cover (+ speaker holder), tilt stand.
• Material: PLA or PETG · Layer height: 0.2 mm · Walls: 3 · Infill: 15%
• Supports: minimal — only on the bezel ring that holds the screen.
• Total print time: ~2 hours.

🧰 What you need

• Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-1.75 board — buy it without the plastic case (this enclosure replaces it).
• USB-C data cable (power + flashing); optional 3.7 V LiPo (MX1.25) for cordless use.
• 6× ⌀6 × 2 mm neodymium disc magnets (press-fit — 3 in the case, 3 in the back cover).
• 3× M2 × 6 mm screws to fasten the screen/board to the bezel ring.
• The Waveshare speaker (MX1.25) for alert sounds (optional).
• The tilt pivot uses printed pins — no hardware there.
• A free aisstream.io API key (non-commercial) for the live feed.

🔩 Assembly (easy — no tools)

1. Press-fit the 6 magnets into the case and back cover.
2. Screw the screen to the bezel ring with the 3× M2×6 screws.
3. Plug the speaker into the SPK connector and tuck it into the back.
4. Snap the magnetic back on.
5. Clip the case into the tilt stand with the printed pins; angle to taste.
6. Flash & set up (next).

⚡ Flash & set up — no toolchain

1. Get a free AIS API key at aisstream.io → sign up → Create API Key (free, non-commercial, no credit card).
2. Open the browser web-flasher (Chrome/Edge), plug the board in, click Install: 👉 https://socquique.github.io/capsule-radar-ais/
3. Join the CapsuleMarine-Setup WiFi from your phone and enter your WiFi, your aisstream API key, and your home location.
4. Fine-tune anything later at http://capsule-marine.local/.

🔑 A free aisstream.io API key is required — it's what feeds the live ship data into the radar. One minute to create, no card needed.

🔁 Same screen? Build my other gadgets too

This runs on the Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-1.75. If you already have that screen, you can print + flash these too — one board, three desk toys:

🛠️ Open source

MIT-licensed firmware: https://github.com/socquique/capsule-radar-ais — PRs, themes & remixes welcome. Built with PlatformIO + LVGL + arduinoWebSockets.

📝 Notes

Educational / non-commercial project. AIS data via aisstream.io (free tier — respect their terms); a self-hosted RTL-SDR / dAISy receiver works as a fully local alternative. Coverage is best near coasts, ports and busy waterways.