Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
Datalogging System provides GPS capability.
Press Release Summary:
TDS2020GDL features Sapphire GPS module, allowing user to build custom Position Datalogger to store location and other sensor information on CompactFlash cards for later review. Pressures, temperatures, and rotation rates can be collected in Excel PC-compatible format. Satellite-fed position information from GPS receiver can be stored for later importing into PC spreadsheet program. Two serial ports and optional CANbus interface provide communications capability.
Original Press Release:
GPS Position and Sensor Datalogging made easy!
Fairport, NY. TDS2020GDL GPS Datalogging System now features the new small Sapphire GPS module, making it easy to build a custom Position Datalogger to store location as well as other sensor information on to CompactFlash cards for later review. Furthermore, a new Software Datalogger Wizard provided allows non-programmers to easily configure the device to suit individual needs.
Equipment used in agriculture, security, transport or seagoing vessels often needs to be monitored and correlated with position information. Pressures, temperatures, rotation rates, doors open/closed and other information can be collected by this module in Excel PC-compatible format. Satellite-fed position information on latitude, longitude, date and time from a GPS receiver can be stored for later importing into a PC spreadsheet program. After the module has run for minutes or months on a small battery, PCMCIA or Compact Flash datastorage cards can be removed for easy data transfer into a PC. Laptop PCs are often inappropriately used in these often remote logging applications, but the ruggedness, very low power consumption and low price of the TDS2020GDL GPS Datalogging System makes it a much more useful pocketable solution. Application areas include agriculture, security, transport, boats, surveys, searches, etc. Retrieve the data by putting the memory card in a PC, or upload through a serial or USB port.
The Sapphire Global Positioning System receiver is housed in a small hemisphere with a strong magnetic base - easily be placed on a vehicle roof. The TDS2020F computer beneath it can also turn off the GPS receiver if need be, to save power. A keypad and graphics display can be added to the setup, so the module can become a complete portable instrument, not just a device to record measurements. Adding other ready-made software modules or custom software can make the system do control work at the same time as data collection.
Interactive design enables an engineer with little programming knowledge to tailor the module to his exact requirements. Supplied high-level Forth programs can be user-customized to meet a user's exact requirements. Data and GPS logging in .csv format is provided as a ready-made program, but sampling rate and sleep times can be changed, or add a keypad and graphics display so that the module becomes a complete portable instrument or controller and not just a device to record measurements. Two serial ports and optional CANbus interface give it real communications capability.
The main features of TDS2020GDL GPS Datalogger are:
- Log other data as well as location information
- Industry-standard PCMCIA and Compact Flash cards
- Low power for battery operation
- Output to Excel spreadsheet or Access database
- Use any GPS receiver, or the Sapphire unit supplied.
- logger standby can switch off GPS receiver to save power.
Available from stock, TDS2020GDL GPS Datalogging Starter Pack is $835 from Saelig Company Inc, 1 Cabernet Circle, Fairport, NY 14450 USA 585-425-3753; 585-425-3835 (fax) www.saelig.com saelig@aol.com
