Primary GPS data source

[ivogeorg]

Description

This primary GPS data source on the RPi is a u-blox M8 module. We have a choice of 2:

1. MAX-M8Q GNSS HAT.
2. BerryGPS IMU V4.

Both are available on I2C.

There is a secondary location data from the Iridium RockBLOCK (See #6), but it has low resolution (several km).

Knowledge

1. MAX-M8Q device page: https://www.waveshare.com/max-m8q-gnss-hat.htm
2. Vendor wiki: https://www.waveshare.com/wiki/MAX-M8Q_GNSS_HAT (resources)
3. ublox u-center: https://www.u-blox.com/en/product/u-center
4. BerryGPS product page: https://ozzmaker.com/product/berrygps-imu/.
5. BerryGPS quick start guide: https://ozzmaker.com/berrygps-berrygps-imu-quick-start-guide/.
6. u-blox M8 receiver and protocol specs: https://www.u-blox.com/sites/default/files/products/documents/u-blox8-M8_ReceiverDescrProtSpec_UBX-13003221.pdf

Deliverables

1. Python device driver package.
2. For Flight-mode management, see #12.

[ivogeorg]

No luck with u-center on Windows work laptop. Could not find driver for USB-to-UART bridge.

Connects fine with RPi 4 with jumpers connected in the B configuration, as shown:

The coordinate_converter demo works fine outdoors.

[ccason1]

Got an error when running the example code from balloonsat/gps/python/RaspberryPi/coordinate_converter/main.py.

GPSDSocket.connect exception is--> [Errno 111] Connection refused
AGPS3 connection to a gpsd at '127.0.0.1' on port '2947' failed

AGPS3 send command fail with [Errno 32] Broken pipe
gps device make wgs84 coordinate
gcj02 coordinate is for amap or google map
bd09 coordinate is for baidu map
 Please press Ctrl+c if want to exit 
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/pi/Code/balloonsat/gps/python/RaspberryPi/coordinate_converter/main.py", line 18, in <module>
    for new_data in gps_socket:
  File "/home/pi/.local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/gps3/agps3.py", line 119, in next
    self.response = gpsd_response.readline()
  File "/usr/lib/python3.9/socket.py", line 704, in readinto
    return self._sock.recv_into(b)
OSError: [Errno 107] Transport endpoint is not connected

I ran the command: sudo systemctl start gpsd based on the advice from this forum: https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=269100

and it fixed the issue. This means that gpsd was not active by default on my RPi. Just a heads up for anyone else having this issue.

Here's a link for helpful information about managing services like this: https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-use-systemctl-to-manage-systemd-services-and-units

[ivogeorg]

Got an error when running the example code from balloonsat/gps/python/RaspberryPi/coordinate_converter/main.py.

GPSDSocket.connect exception is--> [Errno 111] Connection refused
AGPS3 connection to a gpsd at '127.0.0.1' on port '2947' failed

AGPS3 send command fail with [Errno 32] Broken pipe
gps device make wgs84 coordinate
gcj02 coordinate is for amap or google map
bd09 coordinate is for baidu map
 Please press Ctrl+c if want to exit 
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/pi/Code/balloonsat/gps/python/RaspberryPi/coordinate_converter/main.py", line 18, in <module>
    for new_data in gps_socket:
  File "/home/pi/.local/lib/python3.9/site-packages/gps3/agps3.py", line 119, in next
    self.response = gpsd_response.readline()
  File "/usr/lib/python3.9/socket.py", line 704, in readinto
    return self._sock.recv_into(b)
OSError: [Errno 107] Transport endpoint is not connected

I ran the command: sudo systemctl start gpsd based on the advice from this forum: https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=269100

and it fixed the issue. This means that gpsd was not active by default on my RPi. Just a heads up for anyone else having this issue.

Here's a link for helpful information about managing services like this: https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-use-systemctl-to-manage-systemd-services-and-units

@ccason1 Did you get your own MAX-M8Q receiver? Otherwise, I would surprised that you can get anything to run, since it looks like you left the receiver at the office.

[ccason1]

@ivogeorg Yes, I got my own. I'm getting a power bank today so that I can test it outside (although if the clouds block the signal then I'll have to wait until tomorrow).

[ivogeorg]

Great! I was wondering... :D

GPS signals are not as affected by atmospheric weather conditions. You should be fine testing it even today, though the rest of the week will be all clear, too.

[ccason1]

I got u-center working. Here's the steps I took:

1. set up a remote connection with the receiver through the Raspberry Pi. Link: https://ozzmaker.com/using-u-center-to-connect-to-a-raspberry-pi-with-an-attached-berrygps-imu-gsm/

2. download and install the driver from the u-blox website. Driver: u-blox GNSS Standard Driver for Windows, v1.2.0.8 Link: https://www.u-blox.com/en/product-resources/property_file_product_filter/2779

3. if it doesn't work right away, close the u-center window and open it up again.

[ivogeorg]

@ccason1, the problem with u-center was that my university-issued laptop wouldn't not pull the driver.

In any case, u-center is not a priority.