Autopilot navigation

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive, at a marine electronics device on a marine vessel, user input indicating one of a desired heading or a range of headings;

receive, at the marine electronics device, user input indicating a selection of at least one marine characteristic to be measured at a current location, wherein the at least one marine characteristic is a bottom hardness, a bottom composition, a transition between bottom compositions, a water temperature, or a thermocline;

receive first sensor data captured at the current location and from a sensor associated with the marine vessel;

determine, from the first sensor data, a first value for the selected marine characteristic at the current location, wherein the current location is a first location;

transmit first instructions to an autopilot for a motor of the marine vessel to operate the motor such that the marine vessel travels according to the desired heading or range of headings;

receive second sensor data captured at a second location from the sensor as the marine vessel is traveling in accordance with the instruction of the autopilot, wherein the second location is different from the first location;

determine, from the second sensor data, a second value for the selected marine characteristic at the second location;

compare the first value and the second value; and

transmit second instructions to the autopilot to operate the marine vessel in a heading based at least in part on the comparison between the first value and the second value, wherein:

in an instance in which the second value is within a threshold range with respect to the first value, the second instructions cause the autopilot to operate the marine vessel such that the marine vessel travels at a current heading; and

in an instance in which the second value is outside of the threshold range with respect to the first value, the second instructions cause the autopilot to operate the marine vessel such that the marine vessel travels at a new heading that is different than the current heading.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the selected at least one marine characteristic is water temperature or an amount of vegetation.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the range of headings comprises a heading and a variance.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the autopilot is a trolling motor autopilot.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data is sonar data and the sensor is a sonar device.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the first and second instructions are instructions for steering the vessel, instructions for increasing or decreasing an amount of thrust, one or more sets of coordinates, or a heading.

7. A system including the marine electronics device with a memory including the non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises:

the autopilot for the motor for the marine vessel, wherein the autopilot controls the motor to cause the marine vessel to travel in a heading and at a speed;

the sensor associated with the marine vessel, wherein the sensor measures one or more marine characteristics with respect to the underwater environment; and

the marine electronics device of the marine vessel, wherein the marine electronics device comprises:

at least one computer;

a communication interface configured to communicate with the autopilot and the sensor; and

the memory that stores the non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 .

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive, at a marine electronics device on a marine vessel, user input indicating a selection of at least one marine characteristic of a body of water, wherein the marine characteristic is a bottom hardness, a bottom composition, a water temperature, a thermocline, or a transition between bottom compositions;

receive, at the marine electronics device, user input indicating one of a desired heading or a range of headings;

receive, at the marine electronics device, a location for the body of water;

determine, from prerecorded sensor data for the location, a first value for the selected marine characteristic at the selected location;

analyze the prerecorded sensor data to determine a route that includes a plurality of locations, wherein the route begins at the selected location and according to the desired heading or the range of headings, wherein each of the plurality of locations of the route has a value for the selected marine characteristic that is within a threshold range of the first value; and

transmit, to an autopilot for a motor of the marine vessel, a set of instructions, whereby the autopilot operates the motor based on the set of instructions such that the marine vessel travels along the route.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the user input indicating one of a desired heading or a range of headings indicated the range of headings, and wherein the route is determined so as to maintain the vessel within the indicated range of headings.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the prerecorded sensor data is prerecorded sonar data that was previously collected by one or more sonar devices associated with the marine vessel.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the prerecorded sensor data is retrieved from a cloud computing service.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the autopilot is a trolling motor autopilot.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to:

receive sonar data from a sonar device associated with the marine vessel while the marine vessel travels along the route; and

transmit instructions to the autopilot to modify the route based on the received sonar data.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to:

determine, from the sonar data, a second value for the selected marine characteristic; and

determine that the second value is outside of a threshold range with respect to the first value.

15. A system including the marine electronics device with a memory including the non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the system comprises:

the autopilot for the motor for the marine vessel, wherein the autopilot controls the motor to cause the marine vessel to travel in a heading and at a speed;

the sensor associated with the marine vessel, wherein the sensor measures one or more marine characteristics with respect to the underwater environment; and

the marine electronics device of the marine vessel, wherein the marine electronics device comprises:

at least one computer;

a communication interface configured to communicate with the autopilot and the sensor; and

the memory that stores the non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8 .

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive, at a marine electronics device in a marine vessel, user input indicating a selection of at least one marine characteristic of a body of water and a desired value of the at least one marine characteristic, wherein the at least one marine characteristic is a bottom hardness, a bottom composition, a water temperature, a thermocline, or a transition between bottom compositions;

receive, at the marine electronics device, user input indicating a search radius;

detect the current location of the marine vessel;

determine, based on at least the current location and the search radius, a search pattern, wherein the current location is a first location;

transmit, to an autopilot for a motor of the marine vessel, a first set of instructions, whereby the autopilot operates the motor based on the first set of instructions such that the marine vessel travels according to the search pattern;

receive, while the marine vessel performs the search pattern, sensor data captured at a second location within the search pattern and from a sensor device on the marine vessel;

determine, from the sensor data, a second value for the selected marine characteristic at the second location; and

determine if the second value is within a threshold range with respect to the desired value.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to generate a waypoint at the second location in an instance in which the second value is within a threshold range with respect to the desired value.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to transmit, to the autopilot, a second set of instructions, whereby the autopilot operates the motor based on the second set of instructions such that the marine vessel maintains position at the second location in an instance in which the second value is within a threshold range with respect to the desired value.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the computer to activate an alarm in an instance in which the second value is within a threshold range with respect to the desired value.

20. A system including the marine electronics device with a memory including the non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the system comprises:

the autopilot for the motor for the marine vessel, wherein the autopilot controls the motor to cause the marine vessel to travel in a heading and at a speed;

the sensor associated with the marine vessel, wherein the sensor measures one or more marine characteristics with respect to the underwater environment; and

the marine electronics device of the marine vessel, wherein the marine electronics device comprises:

at least one computer;

a communication interface configured to communicate with the autopilot and the sensor; and

the memory that stores the non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 .