N.E.R.D. Nautical Embedded Resource Director – Watermaker Controller

⚙️ Overview

The N.E.R.D. Watermaker Controller is a purpose-built embedded system designed for the control and monitoring of marine reverse osmosis watermakers.
It provides a clean and reliable interface to manage pumps, flushing cycles and system parameters, while continuously monitoring flow, pressure and TDS.
Built on ESP32 architecture with a 4.3” touchscreen display, N.E.R.D. combines simplicity, robustness and flexibility in a compact system.

The software is completely open source (it can be downloaded from GitHub here) and the hardware is not proprietary; it can be purchased online, from our shop or from specialist electronics retailers.
It is also suitable for DIY assembly, but some practical experience in electronics is required for the wiring and software installation.
From May 2026, it will be fitted to our high-pressure pump watermakers. Future software updates can be downloaded and installed by customers via a simple USB connection and the Arduino software on a PC.

🔧 Key Features

• Real-time control of:
  • Feed pump
  • High-pressure pump
  • Flush cycle
  • Water routing (tank / test)
• Live monitoring:
  • Flow (L/h and GPH)
  • Pressure (BAR and PSI)
  • TDS (PPM)
• 4.3” touchscreen interface (800×480)
• Responsive and stable LVGL-based UI
• RS485 Modbus communication
• Persistent runtime tracking (FRAM-based)
• Dual-screen interface (Main + Settings)

🧠 Open System Philosophy

N.E.R.D. is designed as an open-code system.
https://github.com/CobrAm-GmbH/nerd-watermaker-controller
All software and hardware components are documented and accessible, allowing technically skilled users to study, modify or replicate the system.
However, building a clean, reliable and marine-ready controller requires practical experience in electronics, wiring and system integration.
This product provides a fully assembled, tested and ready-to-use solution.

Open by design. Built for real-world use.

📦 Scope of Delivery

Fully assembled and tested N.E.R.D. Controller including:
– 4.3” touchscreen display unit
– Pre-configured firmware (ESP32-S3 + ESP32-C3)
– Integrated RS485 communication system
– Ready-to-use interface for pumps and sensors
– TDS meter
– Flow Sensor
– Pressure Sensor in AISI 316L
– Relay box (24x19x10 cm)

🔩 Hardware Concept

The system is built using non-proprietary, widely available components, ensuring long-term serviceability, cost efficiency and independence from single suppliers

Typical system includes:

• ESP32-S3 touchscreen controller
• ESP32-C3 remote module
• RS485 communication interface
• Analog acquisition module (pressure / TDS)
• Flow sensor (pulse-based)
• FRAM memory for persistent data storage

The touch screen is housed in the relay box, which also contains the electronics, but it can be removed and positioned at a distance (there is no distance limit; it can even be placed 100 metres away) using a simple 4-core cable. The carbon fibre panel in which the display is mounted measures 16.5 x 10.5 cm.

🔄 Scalability

N.E.R.D. is designed to scale.

Software

• Modular architecture
• Easy feature extension
• Continuous development

Hardware

• Expandable with additional sensors
• RS485 and I2C integration
• Compatible with higher-level systems (e.g. Raspberry Pi)

🚀 Deployment

Designed for deployment across BlueGold high-pressure watermaker systems starting from May 2026.

⚠️ Note

Built by Nerd Sailors, for Nerd Sailors.

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