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  • Author Author: bobalexander
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Pi Hiker - High Accuracy Raspberry Pi Geocaching System

bobalexander

I won a Raspberry Pi 2 GPS kit!


My intent is to create a kid friendly, high accuracy geocaching platform that my daughters can use when hiking.

Technical specs:

  • Accuracy of the GPS location could be improved by putting the L80 into 10Hz mode and then performing an averaging function such as outlined in this paper:

          An Effective Approach to Improving Low-Cost GPS Positioning Accuracy in Real-Time Navigation

  • With the addition of a magnetometer, a direction indicator could be added that would not be dependent upon movement to show the target azimuth.
  • We would utilize our Makerspace's 3D printer to print an enclosure for this platform to sit in such that it could be used by children.
  • I think the Pi 2 is a good candidate for this project as it should have the horsepower to perform the averaging function and be able to utilize a database of geocaches downloaded before the trip.

 

Yesterday I received my kit in the mail and got it assembled and running the PiFace CAD Weather demo:


20150805_002419.jpg


Tonight I plan to get the basic GPS functions running.  

 

Detailed build log here:

Pi Hiker Doc

  • You've nailed it there, Bob. In my experience when out geocaching, this is the one advantage that the smartphone app has over a dedicated GPS device:

    ...a direction indicator could be added that would not be dependent upon movement to show the target azimuth.

    Otherwise, I've only ever had sporadic success with the app (and it eats the battery with a knife and fork), so keep us posted if you make any progress with this tasty notion!

     

    Also, if you're thinking of designing an enclosure for the kids, why not make it wrist mounted? Leela/Predator/Pip-Boy style! If it had a direction indicator on the screen, they could just point their finger and follow it to the cache image