GPS or what?

jtrz

Hi all,

A hobby idea I'm pursuing is a GPS Logger that will record your locations (and other related data) every few seconds throughout the day.· Then you can DL the stored positional data and process it later somehow.·

Obviously, the first thing that comes to mind is a GPS receiver/logger and making it with a Basic Stamp.· I've read some posts about people doing this with RC planes, etc.· But maybe there's some other method I'm overlooking?

I've read the specs on the Parallax GPS receiver and basicially I get from there that in a building it will not work well.· It needs line of sight to communicate with the satellites.· I don't need a great deal of precision.· But I would like to have it work while at home or at the office...I'm not talking 20 feet under ground here.· Just your basic house (basement and 2 floors) and a small·office building (about the same...old house turned into an office).

My questions are these:

1. Maybe there's an inexpensive·commercial product that someone knows of that would do this better than me creating it?· I know, I know...where's the fun in that?· · But I am looking for it to be very small...like a little bigger than the GPS receiver component itself, but definitely not bigger than the size of a deck of cards.
2. Is the sensitivity of that GPS receiver overblown and it will work fine?·Or is there a way to make it work better in these situations?

I'd eventually like to make something that will run just in my house and transmit the data this would normally store to a receiver connected to my PC, possibly using an xBee or something like that.
Any help is appreciated!
Thanks,
John

Post Edited (jtrz) : 11/30/2007 6:16:28 PM GMT

Mike Green

Three issues:
1) GPS in general won't give you fine detail in terms of position and you're talking about recording a pedestrian's position every few seconds ... probably not enough resolution with standard GPS.

2) GPS receivers take a bit of power, not enough to make battery capacity and weight issues prohibitive, but it's an issue.

3) Most GPS receivers really do require a clear view of the sky and the wiring and piping in a house or office building can markedly interfere with reception If you're by an outside wall using wood framing and not too much metal in the walls, you might be ok, but don't count on it.

jtrz

I'm new to the GPS thing so thanks for the help!

So then let's narrow this down a bit. Let's say I wanted to simply record my position (or distance from a given fixed point) every few seconds while I walk around my house. Let's stay within a 500' radius.· Forget transmitting the data.· Just logging the data will do.

If not GPS, then how?

Post Edited (jtrz) : 11/30/2007 6:30:29 PM GMT

Unsoundcode

Heres a link to a previous topic where a GPS, Stamp and Vdrive (Parallax datalogger will do the same) were used to record position and time during a race. I have not seen the completed unit but it was small enough not to be a hinderance while running.

http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=644902

Jeff T.

steve_b

Something that might be fun is to use a parallax compass in conjunction with an accelerometer and a GPS.

Figure out your cadence and how the signal looks on the accelerometer....then you know when you take a step.
If you take a bunch of steps in a given compass direction you'll have distance and direction....

This may only work on flat grounds, but may be fun to compare to your gps where your compass/accelerometer think you've gone....

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<FONT>Steve



What's the best thing to do in a lightning storm? "take a one iron out the bag and hold it straight up above your head, even God cant hit a one iron!"
Lee Travino after the second time being hit by lightning!

jtrz

Hi Steve,

You know...I thought of using the compass component in some form. But not like that. That's an interesting idea! Very cool!

Thanks for the idea!

John

steve_b

Ya....I got all sorts of ideas....haha, just have to sit down and work on them instead of watching the ol'moving picture box!

I'm trying to find time to put together a handheld gps box for geocaching. Need a semi-clear day (no precip) to put the gps outside while I work on it! hard to come by this time of year....looking at 6inches of snow already!

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<FONT>Steve



What's the best thing to do in a lightning storm? "take a one iron out the bag and hold it straight up above your head, even God cant hit a one iron!"
Lee Travino after the second time being hit by lightning!