Newsgroups: comp.robotics
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From: nanders@plains.NoDak.edu (Noel Anderson)
Subject: Re: Electronic Compass wanted
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Date: Tue, 26 Apr 1994 01:29:13 GMT
References: <1994Apr24.094514.1@ashley.cofc.edu>
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I'm aware of two electronic compasses. KVH in Rhode Island makes the C100
that is good to within a couple tenths of a degree when stationary. On a
bicycle, the heading has a hefty +/-20 degree noise from vehicle vibration
when in motion. A Stanford spin-off is just about to release the TCM1 which
consists of three magnetometers and two inclinometers. The inclinometers
are useful when traversing hills and there needs to be seperation of
vertical, north, and east travel. The drawback is that
these units cost $500-$700 in single quantities.

The addresses and phone numbers for these companies are at my other
office which is not on the Internet (yet).

Sony sells an 8-channel GPS receiver for $280, if you don't mind buying
1000 at a time. I've used the Trimble Accutime GPS receiver and found
that S/A impacts heading. The unit only updates heading at speeds above
5 mph which is significant for the agricultural applications I use it for.


-- 
Noel W. Anderson                   nanders@plains.nodak.edu (Internet)
Asst Prof, Computer Engineering         "I speak for myself, not NDSU"
EE Dept, North Dakota State University         nanders@plains (BITNET)
