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GPS for Robotic Navigation

aww

I want to learn more about GPS systems.  I have some experience with embedded electronics and a lot of experience as a programmer (Windows, Linux, etc.)  I have use Arduino and Raspberry PI in the past.

 

I want to use a base and mobile GPS pair to track the X, Y, Z coordinates of a small robotic vehicle.  It will use differential GPS calculations for more precision.  Codes might also be sent to control navigation and I might want to add a camera at some point.  I want the GPS is be as accurate as possible and the wireless communications to be as far as possible.  (and of course a relatively low price)

 

I was thinking two arduinos, two GPS receivers, and two XBee radios.  The base would have AC available but the mobile unit would have a battery.  The base could have a larger external antenna(s) but the mobile unit should be a short external or internal antenna(s)  The mobile could be 1/2 mile from the base (line of sight).  I would also like my laptop to participate in sending/receiving the data stream.

 

I see Element 14 has many related items for sale.  But since I am just beginning to learn about GPS and longer range communications, I would like your recommendations on what to buy. Ideally, the total would be less than $300, but I could stretch to $500.

 

Al

  • 0

    Hi Al,

     

    Sub-1GHz (ISM band) transceivers will easily get you line-of-sight to the 1/2 mile that you specify. It is intended for low bitrate, not video. Long range video is not really feasible

    on unlicensed spectrum, so consider 4G/LTE if you need that.

    For GPS the selection depends on what you want - you can see the position accuracy for different models in the Farnell search. Some devices may dynamically report an estimate on error, which

    could be useful if you want to base decisions on that (e.g. not to move, or take further sensor measurements, if the estimated error is too high). You'd have to research to know which

    models may do that - I don't know.

    Also, I can't see that an Arduino would be very helpful with location calculations based off GPS co-ordinates. Surely a linux platform (such as the Raspberry Pi that you mention) would be more useful

    with its higher processing power.

    A 4G/LTE USB interface could plug in to that too.

    If you need video then for radio comms I would personally use 4G/LTE and another benefit is that then you only need construct the mobile unit. The base unit can then just be a desktop/laptop PC or

    even a tablet/smartphone.