Project 18: Survey Grade Cellular GPS

Sponsor: True Line Surveying - Curk Lane

Mentor(s):

Curk Lane curk@truelinesurveying.com

Team:

Jacob Dobson (team leader) -- jodobson@ncsu.edu

Davis Illmberger-Fischer (team member) -- deilmber@ncsu.edu

David Glymph (team member) -- dwglymph@ncsu.edu

Eamon Murphy (team member) -- epmurphy@ncsu.edu

Meeting Time

Thursdays 2-3PM -- hybrid (Zoom scheduled as needed)

Sunday 12PM or as needed -- Discord

Project Resources

Project Drive (open access): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mzx8F0R2G7AJkT8XcRPGYnSbbjEnHOGC?usp=sharing

Team Charter: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PpPx8FoVAe97vRL8J5wKrKVWEFUoE7kWU_r4IQwN-XY/edit?usp=sharing

Status Review 1: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1J0J4aqJEWtDJYVuwSHwnJXTs1Yd9KMo2oSSqStmB0ac/edit?usp=sharing

Preliminary Design Review: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XJvG9_OhRFZbZdpDNaVxtzNA3gYry-PCsV-RFBghDC0/edit?usp=sharing

Project Plan: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PpPx8FoVAe97vRL8J5wKrKVWEFUoE7kWU_r4IQwN-XY/edit?usp=sharing

Meeting Notes: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GoXmCCYLK7kpYAwGgP4W7lnvQ3MRfu2Y?usp=sharing

Assignments

N/A

Project Background and Need:

I would like to investigate building a geo-positioning system, for the Land Surveying Industry, using cellular, or similar readily available communication technology, that does not require cellular signal or satellite communication. The problem I am looking to solve is how to geo-locate a data point without a traditional survey instrument or using GPS. The problem with traditional survey equipment is that it requires a line of sight. That is difficult in wooded sites and also urban areas. The problem with GPS is that it requires a direct line of sight to the satellites. That means open sky to 5-7 satellites to insure the accuracy needed. Our accuracy tolerance is sub-centimeter. I would like to develop a way to geo-locate data points using a network of small devices that communicate between themselves using a frequency that will penetrate buildings and vegetation. The same way GPS satellites form a network around the earth, we could place these devices around a job site and allow them to communicate to determine the location of each device in relationship to each other. I look forward to seeing how this can be achieved to greatly increase speed and accuracy in the Land Surveying industry and any other industry.

Problem Description/requirements (List of high-level functionality you expect to see in the end product):

Understanding cellular data communication and how it shares data. Understanding how to geospatial (3D) relate multiple units together to build a network grid.

Required Skills / Desired Competencies (in order of importance):

• Embedded hardware and programming

• Wireless communications programming

• Sensor interface and programming

• Mobile app development

• Programming experience

• PCB design and layout

• Power electronics and power systems

• MATLAB and Simulink

How often and how would you be available to meet/chat with the team (Zoom, Hangout, Skype, Phone)?

At least once a week or as needed, Zoom seems to be the easiest but in per as the project progresses would be great.

Will the students be required to sign any of the following before they start with the project? NDA / CDA / IP assignment / IP protection form

NDA will need to be signed.

System Architecture Diagram:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LgtoaDymW4WHXA4eYO0fQ-eXIIh_iKJirziiJZM-JbA/edit?usp=sharing

Design Day Poster:

PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/146WNFx34t_LULMFrYUQ_w1GXk2HWdVM7/view?usp=sharing

JPEG: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1efbA362qK-3lw1uvCYdvuczT5JJmJtpF/view?usp=sharing