1/23/15
Over this past weekend I continued testing the GPS sensor for a location fix. The results I got from the GPS indicate that either I do not actually have a fix, or I am reading the information incorrectly. I believe that I do have at least a 2D fix because the LED indicator lights are solid (I read that solid indicates a fix and blinking is searching). I think the problem is in how I am reading the GPS data. I’m not sure why it is a problem since I am using the given sample code. I have tried to find more documentation on what the actual returned bytes mean from the status registers, but I have yet to find anything. I even reached out to the company and they forwarded me to a forum that I’ve been to already.
For this past week I set aside the GPS and focused on making sure telemetry was going to be ready for this Sunday. I replaced the Arduino Mega with the Arduino Mini Pro, used stranded wires, and modified the code so that I could control the system more easily. The system also runs continuously now, instead of stopping. I made the system easier to use by adding a built in ‘read EEPROM’ command so that I would not have to reupload code between tests. I then made a small cardboard structure for the system to stick to. This should reduce movement and keep the telemetry system together during flight.
My goals for next week are to continue testing the GPS and implement the RF communication to the ground station Arduino. I will resume GPS tests on Monday and plan to better diagnose what the data is that I’m getting.
Recent Comments