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Question About Gps

Will Ezbuilder see and use a gps that is connected to the usb port of your notebook attached to your robot ? I have one left over from microsoft's streets and maps.


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#1  
Without a model number to research, I can't answer about a specific device, but most USB connected gps will create a comm port and transmit standard nmea position data (same as ez-b needs). The only exception I am aware of is 1st generation Delorme Earthmate which had a proprietary protocol and only worked with Delorme software.

So, in simple terms, yes probably. Try it and see

Alan
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#3  
Why did you post this in project showcase?
#4  
oh my goodness! I thought I had posted it in general discussions.

sorry. Feel free to erase it. But, if you want to answer the question, I would apreciate it.

Thanks for letting me know.

*eek*
#7  
"GPS accuracy is pretty terrible" Depends on your GPS, and depends on your accuracy needs. If you have a smartphone, they use "assisted GPS" that combines position data from cell tower triangulation with GPS data for a faster fix and more accurate positioning. There are drivers available to let a PC see that as NMEA data over a comm port, and the accuracy is within a few feet. (can easily determine which side of the road I am on , and whether I am in the road or walking on the sidewalk)

Most modern standalone GPS devices now have WAAS assistance data, but need a clear view of the southern sky and the data is better near major airports and population centers (the data is received by the GPS from a geostationary satellite, but is provided by ground stations at airports, and the further you are from the airport, the worse the data is

WAAS accuracy with a clear view of the sky and visibility towards the southern horizon is under 2 meters.

If you are near a coast or navigable river, investing in a DGPS receiver (attaches to your GPS external antennae port may be a worthwhile investment. It provides similar accuracy to WAAS when in motion, and if stationary you can get live accuracy down to under 1/3 meter and with post processing down to 1-2 centimeters (although post processing is too slow for any robotics application).

Without and of these corrections, accuracy is between 2 and 15 meters, but generally closer to 2-3 with a clear view of the sky and at least one horizon for the (the further apart the satellites you are using for a fix are from each other, the better the accuracy, and you get the best altitude accuracy from birds near the horizon)

I won't get into the new Class III satellites or military devices which make use of a second signal on a different frequency since there really aren't any class III receivers available yet, and not enough birds up to make it useable, but in a few years, we'll have sub-meter accuracy on consumer grade devices standard.

All that being said, if the device @Moviemaker is asking about is the one I suspect it is, I would expect 2-15 meter accuracy from it as it has none of the corrective features I mentioned.

Alan
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