Reply by Tim Wescott May 3, 20122012-05-03
On Thu, 03 May 2012 12:57:27 +0000, Jukka Marin wrote:

> On 2012-04-30, Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote: >> I noticed when driving a new car in Europe that the nav system managed >> to track fairly well through long tunnels. Makes sense that they would >> stick an accelerometer and/or gyros in there for when the GNSS >> satellite signal is not available- tunnels and urban driving between >> tall buildings. Even a lousy MEMS gyro won't drift that many degrees in >> a few minutes. > > Those systems also use the speed/distance information from the wheel > sensors, so the can be pretty accurate. A bit like a hi-tech device > called odometer ;-) > > -jm
If you can be pretty sure that there's no skidding going on, an odometer and a steering-position sensor should be able to mostly or completely replace gyros, accelerometers, etc. Of course, the more sensors, the merrier. -- My liberal friends think I'm a conservative kook. My conservative friends think I'm a liberal kook. Why am I not happy that they have found common ground? Tim Wescott, Communications, Control, Circuits & Software http://www.wescottdesign.com
Reply by Jukka Marin May 3, 20122012-05-03
On 2012-04-30, Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote:
> I noticed when driving a new car in Europe that the nav system managed > to track fairly well through long tunnels. Makes sense that they would > stick an accelerometer and/or gyros in there for when the GNSS > satellite signal is not available- tunnels and urban driving between > tall buildings. Even a lousy MEMS gyro won't drift that many degrees > in a few minutes.
Those systems also use the speed/distance information from the wheel sensors, so the can be pretty accurate. A bit like a hi-tech device called odometer ;-) -jm
Reply by Jan Panteltje May 1, 20122012-05-01
On a sunny day (Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:36:14 -0600) it happened hamilton
<hamilton@nothere.com> wrote in <jnmpjg$hvk$1@dont-email.me>:

>On 4/30/2012 10:42 AM, Jan Panteltje wrote: >> On a sunny day (Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:07:14 -0400) it happened Spehro Pefhany >> <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote in >> <bo3sp7dfd9qhdsrac7d3fp31bpn7pfrorb@4ax.com>: >> >> >> >>> GlobalSat or U-blox modules with SiRF III etc. are around $15 shipped. >>> >>> Eg. >>> http://www.dealextreme.com/p/eb-365-gps-engine-board-module-with-sirf-star-iii-chipset-80045?item=4 >> >> Do those modules come with any sort of datasheet? > >Google found this: > >http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/cheap-gps-modules-at
PS I ordered this one: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/em-411-gps-engine-board-module-with-sirf-star-iii-chipset-80037 because it has build in antenna and I do not have to design the GHz stuff. Connections are also much easier to make. It is a bit more expensive, but not if you include all that RF stuff.
Reply by Rich Webb May 1, 20122012-05-01
On Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:02:07 -0500, Tim Wescott <tim@seemywebsite.com>
wrote:

>On Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:09:49 -0700, linnix wrote: > > >>> I'm nearly 100% sure that if you want to do credible dead reckoning you >>> need accelerometers and gyros, not just one or the other. &#4294967295;Gyros don't >>> mean much when you don't know the acceleration, and accelerometers >>> don't mean much when you don't know the vehicle direction. >> >> Why can't you figure out the direction with 2D accelerometers? > >Because without a gyro or some other angular reference you don't know >what direction they're pointed. > >I suppose that if you were really cost-conscious you could assume no >skidding and take sideways acceleration to be an indication of turning >rate -- but that's a pretty tenuous connection to reality.
Yes, it's definitely one of those "works in theory but..." applications. But in theory, it would work. ;-) In practice, it could be good enough to work thorough the "urban canyon" effect for brief GPS outages, although the addition of a simple fluxgate compass would help tremendously. -- Rich Webb Norfolk, VA
Reply by Jan Panteltje May 1, 20122012-05-01
On a sunny day (Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:31:37 -0400) it happened Spehro Pefhany
<speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote in
<3kttp79uni4e3gm3e18u06ji5f2rclponv@4ax.com>:

>On Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:42:21 GMT, Jan Panteltje ><pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote: > >>On a sunny day (Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:07:14 -0400) it happened Spehro Pefhany >><speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote in >><bo3sp7dfd9qhdsrac7d3fp31bpn7pfrorb@4ax.com>: >> >> >> >>>GlobalSat or U-blox modules with SiRF III etc. are around $15 shipped. >>> >>>Eg. >>>http://www.dealextreme.com/p/eb-365-gps-engine-board-module-with-sirf-star-iii-chipset-80045?item=4 >> >>Do those modules come with any sort of datasheet? > >Check the manufacturer website, I doubt DX will give yo anything more >than a padded envelope marked "gift".
OK The FM modules for Hongong I have, at least had a pin connection diagram...
Reply by Jan Panteltje May 1, 20122012-05-01
On a sunny day (Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:36:14 -0600) it happened hamilton
<hamilton@nothere.com> wrote in <jnmpjg$hvk$1@dont-email.me>:

>On 4/30/2012 10:42 AM, Jan Panteltje wrote: >> On a sunny day (Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:07:14 -0400) it happened Spehro Pefhany >> <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote in >> <bo3sp7dfd9qhdsrac7d3fp31bpn7pfrorb@4ax.com>: >> >> >> >>> GlobalSat or U-blox modules with SiRF III etc. are around $15 shipped. >>> >>> Eg. >>> http://www.dealextreme.com/p/eb-365-gps-engine-board-module-with-sirf-star-iii-chipset-80045?item=4 >> >> Do those modules come with any sort of datasheet? > >Google found this: > >http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/cheap-gps-modules-at
Thanks! I have downloaded the pdfs, maybe I buy one just for fun, could be an other PIC project, and combine with my fluxgate compass... Years of fun ahaead... Maybe needs a more powerful computah, one of those recent Linux based boards perhapds (display maps on LCD etc). ;-) I would not use FAT filesystem ....
Reply by krw...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz May 1, 20122012-05-01
On Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:13:06 -0700, "Paul Hovnanian P.E." <paul@hovnanian.com>
wrote:

>Tim Wescott wrote: > >> On Sun, 29 Apr 2012 21:30:43 -0700, miso wrote: >> >>> On 4/29/2012 6:32 PM, Spehro Pefhany wrote: >>>> On Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:24:36 -0700, the renowned Mark Borgerson >>>> <mborgerson@comcast.net> wrote: >>>> >>>>> In article<apsqp7lbsvqv9jrrleaoqpgurqg900t0e8@4ax.com>, >>>>> nospam@nospam9876.com says... >>>>>> >>>>>> I am looking at a project which requires a simple GPS receiver (not >>>>>> waas/egnos) and a low grade solid state gyro (not a "level") like the >>>>>> ones you get in smartphones. >>>>>> >>>>>> The build volumes will be initially a batch of 100 and later perhaps >>>>>> thousands, but not more than that. >>>>>> >>>>>> What would be the currently recommended GPS module or chip, and a >>>>>> solid state gyro component? >>>>>> >>>>>> There is a lot of stuff on the market... >>>>>> >>>>>> One requirement is reasonably low power - milliamps rather than 10s >>>>>> of milliamps. I have no idea if that is possible. >>>>> I have not yet found a GPS solution that can give 1HZ updates and draw >>>>> less than about 20mA. There are some that can go into a low-power >>>>> sleep mode and wake up on command to give a fix. However, when awake, >>>>> they still draw 20 to 30mA. To get the overall power down, you need a >>>>> fairly low duty cycle. >>>>>> >>>>>> Ideally the two items can be obtained for under $20-30. >>>>> >>>>> The low end for GPS chips that I've used is about $30 qty 1. >>>> >>>> GPS module + chip antenna should be around $17 quantity one. >>>> >>>> Cost of gyros and translational accelerometers depends a lot on their >>>> performance, from a few dollars up to serious dollars/euros for >>>> military grade stuff. >>>> >>>>>> Any pointers would be much appreciated. >>>>> >>>>> Mark Borgerson >>>> >>>> >>>> Best regards, >>>> Spehro Pefhany >>> >>> The GPSs in cars (built in units) have accelerometers. It makes the user >>> experience better since it can sense a turn before differential >>> waypoints can sense it. I don't think they have to be very good to do >>> that task. >>> >>> They can also do dead reckoning fairly well, but I've never been out of >>> GPS contact for more than a few miles. >>> >>> There is a usenet group on gps. >>>> sci.geo.satellite-nav >> >> I'm nearly 100% sure that if you want to do credible dead reckoning you >> need accelerometers and gyros, not just one or the other. Gyros don't >> mean much when you don't know the acceleration, and accelerometers don't >> mean much when you don't know the vehicle direction. >> >> If there's no skidding going on, a good odometer and a steering position >> sensor may work better than an IMU, though. >> > >How about a compass module for orientation? That'll probably work OK for 2D >navigation tasks between GPS fixes. Not sure what the OP needs.
That's all the automotive GPS units I've seen have.
Reply by Paul Hovnanian P.E. April 30, 20122012-04-30
Tim Wescott wrote:

> On Sun, 29 Apr 2012 21:30:43 -0700, miso wrote: > >> On 4/29/2012 6:32 PM, Spehro Pefhany wrote: >>> On Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:24:36 -0700, the renowned Mark Borgerson >>> <mborgerson@comcast.net> wrote: >>> >>>> In article<apsqp7lbsvqv9jrrleaoqpgurqg900t0e8@4ax.com>, >>>> nospam@nospam9876.com says... >>>>> >>>>> I am looking at a project which requires a simple GPS receiver (not >>>>> waas/egnos) and a low grade solid state gyro (not a "level") like the >>>>> ones you get in smartphones. >>>>> >>>>> The build volumes will be initially a batch of 100 and later perhaps >>>>> thousands, but not more than that. >>>>> >>>>> What would be the currently recommended GPS module or chip, and a >>>>> solid state gyro component? >>>>> >>>>> There is a lot of stuff on the market... >>>>> >>>>> One requirement is reasonably low power - milliamps rather than 10s >>>>> of milliamps. I have no idea if that is possible. >>>> I have not yet found a GPS solution that can give 1HZ updates and draw >>>> less than about 20mA. There are some that can go into a low-power >>>> sleep mode and wake up on command to give a fix. However, when awake, >>>> they still draw 20 to 30mA. To get the overall power down, you need a >>>> fairly low duty cycle. >>>>> >>>>> Ideally the two items can be obtained for under $20-30. >>>> >>>> The low end for GPS chips that I've used is about $30 qty 1. >>> >>> GPS module + chip antenna should be around $17 quantity one. >>> >>> Cost of gyros and translational accelerometers depends a lot on their >>> performance, from a few dollars up to serious dollars/euros for >>> military grade stuff. >>> >>>>> Any pointers would be much appreciated. >>>> >>>> Mark Borgerson >>> >>> >>> Best regards, >>> Spehro Pefhany >> >> The GPSs in cars (built in units) have accelerometers. It makes the user >> experience better since it can sense a turn before differential >> waypoints can sense it. I don't think they have to be very good to do >> that task. >> >> They can also do dead reckoning fairly well, but I've never been out of >> GPS contact for more than a few miles. >> >> There is a usenet group on gps. >>> sci.geo.satellite-nav > > I'm nearly 100% sure that if you want to do credible dead reckoning you > need accelerometers and gyros, not just one or the other. Gyros don't > mean much when you don't know the acceleration, and accelerometers don't > mean much when you don't know the vehicle direction. > > If there's no skidding going on, a good odometer and a steering position > sensor may work better than an IMU, though. >
How about a compass module for orientation? That'll probably work OK for 2D navigation tasks between GPS fixes. Not sure what the OP needs. -- Paul Hovnanian mailto:Paul@Hovnanian.com ------------------------------------------------------------------ Leap and the net will appear.
Reply by Tim Wescott April 30, 20122012-04-30
On Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:09:49 -0700, linnix wrote:


>> I'm nearly 100% sure that if you want to do credible dead reckoning you >> need accelerometers and gyros, not just one or the other. &nbsp;Gyros don't >> mean much when you don't know the acceleration, and accelerometers >> don't mean much when you don't know the vehicle direction. > > Why can't you figure out the direction with 2D accelerometers?
Because without a gyro or some other angular reference you don't know what direction they're pointed. I suppose that if you were really cost-conscious you could assume no skidding and take sideways acceleration to be an indication of turning rate -- but that's a pretty tenuous connection to reality. -- My liberal friends think I'm a conservative kook. My conservative friends think I'm a liberal kook. Why am I not happy that they have found common ground? Tim Wescott, Communications, Control, Circuits & Software http://www.wescottdesign.com
Reply by Spehro Pefhany April 30, 20122012-04-30
On Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:42:21 GMT, Jan Panteltje
<pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On a sunny day (Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:07:14 -0400) it happened Spehro Pefhany ><speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote in ><bo3sp7dfd9qhdsrac7d3fp31bpn7pfrorb@4ax.com>: > > > >>GlobalSat or U-blox modules with SiRF III etc. are around $15 shipped. >> >>Eg. >>http://www.dealextreme.com/p/eb-365-gps-engine-board-module-with-sirf-star-iii-chipset-80045?item=4 > >Do those modules come with any sort of datasheet?
Check the manufacturer website, I doubt DX will give yo anything more than a padded envelope marked "gift".