Preliminary Testers Wanted - GPS Tracker

ukchris · 11-09-2004, 02:11 PM

Starting a new app and looking for some preliminary testing. The intention is that it will save a GPS track that can then be used for a variety of things such as mapping, tracking etc.

For now, if you're game, I'd like people to download the app, check it will work with their GPS and record a track with the GPS (car) in motion.

To do so you should just need to run the app, set the options and click "Start". If the GPS details are correct it should start logging entries in the Table and XML tabs. If not - well, the error handling isn't too pretty yet

If you get that far click Start, let it track for a while then click Stop (this stops the updates and finishes off the XML file). Save the XML file (with the save button) and send it to me, or post it here.

The app can be downloaded here : www.lawlai.com/mp3car/GPSTracker.zip

Chris.

Tred · 11-09-2004, 02:48 PM

This is cool. I would help u out if I had GPS. Do you have any plans on having the car automatically upload the XML to a server when it comes in contact with a wifi access point? If so this proggy will be the shiznit. good luck!

bump...Someone with GPS please test this out

ukchris · 11-09-2004, 02:59 PM

Well, for now I just want to capture it, once captured it's really up to you to do whatever you want with it. Automated uploads shouldn't be hard.

For now I'd aim to have a interactive and a silent mode such that you can work with it as you capture tracks or you can have it auto-start and track where your car goes (and how fast etc) while someone else is driving it. The logs would then be saved for viewing later.

The intended XML format is such that it can be uplaoded to certain mapping sites where you can generate a map showing the track which, for example, chages color according to speed etc so that you can review it in a fairly rich level of detail. Once we get some tracks I'll try to post some samples but for now I need to confirm the format is correct such that it can be uploaded.

Chris.

BasicEvil · 11-09-2004, 03:19 PM

Is there any particular GPS software platform needed for testing?

Will run it tonight if Routis '04 is compatible.

BigToach · 11-09-2004, 03:24 PM

yeah i will test it asap as well. I'll also try to make a mapping setup in php and gd to show some tracking details after i look at how the xml data is stored. Great idea btw.

ukchris · 11-09-2004, 03:25 PM

Doesn't need any GPS software, just a physical GPS. In fact it will not be able to access your GPS if your GPS software is running unless you have COM port sharing.

Leave Routis closed down, use the same COM, Baud etc. and just run my app.

Chris.

BasicEvil · 11-09-2004, 03:27 PM

Will do

jcdillin · 11-09-2004, 03:27 PM

I'll give it a try when I get home

ukchris · 11-09-2004, 05:49 PM

To help try and illustrate where I hope this will go I did a track and mapped it, the results are attached. I canot claim any credit at all for the graphical part, just trying to log the data to feed into in.

The plot varies in color according to speed, you can see how it slows at corners and accelerates on straights for example. There are better mapping systems available, they just refused my file, for now, seems I still have formatting to sort out.

EDIT - There are two tracks overlayed in this image, went there one way, came back another.

EDIT2 - The speeds are actually in KMH, we didn't really go that fast!

Chris.

dragonBTV · 11-09-2004, 07:18 PM

downloading
if you could add auto voice guider on already haved tracking, that would be great!

Tred · 11-09-2004, 09:14 PM

looks good. can this also log the GPS coordinates? Also im sure many people want to have this running while they are running their norml GPS soft., is there an easy way to set up com port sharing?

lawrence · 11-09-2004, 09:38 PM

will it work with a delorme earthmate gps?

ukchris · 11-09-2004, 09:51 PM

My app is doing the relatively simple part, it is capturing the GPS data and writing it out to a file. The graphical part is all done using other services, the one above was generated at www.gpsvisualizer.com but I am aiming to use www.motionbased.com

You can read and decide your preference but the latter is focussed on sports and tracking lap times and what they call "dot racing" where you race your own tracktime. They basically provide a cool interface and mapping of GPS data, primarilly captured from a handheld GPS (Garmin, Magellan etc).

COM Port splitting - do a search, there are a few ways, COMFoolery is one that comes to mind.

Delorme - yes, should work just fine, as far as I know.

I'm trying to sort out some formatting issues in the GPX XML file at the moment, seems motionbased.com doesn't like my files!

Chris.

ukchris · 11-09-2004, 10:37 PM

These tracks are based on a sample file but give a good idea on where I'd like this to end up, if everything works out. This is the same track displayed in three different ways at www.gpsvisualizer.com

BigToach · 11-10-2004, 04:15 AM

really cool, heres an urban one where i live, socal (the speeds are off cause its mph not kph)

rather large sorry

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