Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!cat.cis.Brown.EDU!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!ihnp4.ucsd.edu!pacbell.com!amdahl!netcomsv!netcom.com!mbutts
From: mbutts@netcom.com (Mike Butts)
Subject: Re: GPS (was elec compass)
Message-ID: <mbuttsCoxrAq.84L@netcom.com>
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
References: <1994Apr24.233603.17656@wmichgw> <2ph3f8$fpu@unix1.cc.uop.edu> <2plfdo$ig8@clarknet.clark.net>
Date: Wed, 27 Apr 1994 20:52:02 GMT
Lines: 32

gregpres@clark.net (g.Preston) writes:

>rkyker@vms1.cc.uop.edu said, and I quote:
>: Ok I post wanting info on compasses and everybody says go GPS. I 
>: agree that for greater accuracy this is the way to go but, I can't touch
>: a GPS for under $500 can I? Also I wanted to keep the cost of the compass
>: /navagation under $100. This is a student project and I don't have lotsa
>: dough. If I had enough info on GPS systems (I'm a bit ignorant at this 
>: point) I might could get the school to foot the bill. What are soem 
>: prices and companies that sell GPS that are in the inexpensive range and
>: that have a signal I could get into a microprocessor?

>: Ron

>There is a gps oriented newsgroup (can't think of formal name right now) 
>that were getting money together to buy receiver boards for around $100.  
>They were using the quantity discount of course.  Check them out.
>	-Greg-

Maybe that's sci.geo.satellite-nav.  

A GPS is basically a UHF radio and a digital processor.  In the kinds of
volumes it will probably reach, I'd be surprised if a bare receiver
didn't reach $100 or less eventually.  Thus research on using GPS in
small robots will be interesting (if you can afford to pay today's
prices to do the research).

       --Mike

-- 
Mike Butts, Portland, Oregon   mbutts@netcom.com

