latitude longitude Building a
latit u d e
longitude
latitude
longitude
Real-Time
latit u d e
GPS Tracking
longitude
System
By Forrest Stanley
Adding a position reporting and
tracking system to your robot comes
with many challenges. It can be
especially difficult providing live
updated tracking information to a
server or user. With a GPRS mobile
connection, this problem can be
overcome and even exploited to
provide a mobile, live user interface
to the tracking system. This article
will detail how to build and add a
tracking system to any mobile
application, such as an autonomous
robot or vehicle. This tracking
system will utilize a GPRS/GPS
module, a local web server, and a
simple web interface created with
the Google Maps API.
Adding a mobile GPRS connection with GPS functionality has the obvious navigational logging
application. However, this functionality also enables options
such as remote navigation, real-time web updates to a blog,
or getting instant readings from the environmental sensors.
50 SERVO 07.2010
The mobile tracking system on Earth
receives GPS data from the satellites to
calculate its position.
Costs
With the info provided here, you will be able to build
this device for about half of what many online stores
charge.
For hardware, I used the NetBurner MOD5270LC
Eclipse Ethernet Development Kit ( www.netburner.com
for $99). I also used the SparkFun Electronics GM862
Evaluation Kit ( www.sparkfun.com for $230). For testing
purposes, I would recommend purchasing the GM862 kit
with an included power supply.
Hardware Used
This system uses the Telit GM862-GPS chip. This is a
device that not only provides GPS signal serial output, but
also handles the GPRS mobile connection. General Packet
Radio Service (GPRS) allows the chip to use a mobile
network service that can connect the device to a local web
server. I used a NetBurner MOD5270 as a gateway between
the GM862 and the end user. The MOD5270 initiates and
manages the GPRS Internet connection, translates the GPS
serial output into an object the web server can read, and
