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Propeller: Google Earth GPS SD Card Logger

Posted by paul hubner on July 8, 2008 at 11:30am

One of my goals for my UAV has been to use Google Earth as the tool to display flight paths, and next to create a waypoint list visually. Why reinvent the wheel right?Well I'm halfway there. This logger writes Google Earth Compatible KML files onto an SD card for direct use with Google Earth. Plug it in to your PC and click on the KML to see your path. I posted this last month on the parallax.com site for vetting and it seems to be working fine.This uses the propeller development board and simple connections to the GPS and SD card. The pinouts are specified in the software documents, but I've left out the hardware connections (all of a few resistors). These are referred to in the SPIN routines available on the parallax website. I removed the navigation routines, though there are vestiges, as this embodiment is really to show the logging features.The full forum and comments a can also be seen at the parallax site, including the downloads, image and sample KML.http://forums.parallax.com/forums/default.aspx?f=25&m=271943&g=272218Paul
Tags: gps, google earth, propeller, sd logger
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  • paul hubner July 9, 2008 at 7:23am
    Sorry about that Jack - The files are the direct saves from the PC-propeller tool. If its any consolation the files are unreadable on a PC if they were not closed properly. Gotta love windoze... If you'd like I can email the files to you. PM if/where you'd like them sent.

    James thanks for posting the direct link to the SD card descrioption. This is just what I used.
    Paul
    Paul
  • James Ross July 9, 2008 at 7:15am
    Jack,
    The Propeller Tool doesn't really work well under Linux but you might be able read the .spin files (some have tried). It's rather unfortunate. Also, you can see the SD card schematic for the Propeller
  • Jack Crossfire July 9, 2008 at 2:17am
    Nothing on Linux can seem to handle your unicode txt files. Wonder if there's a schematic for the SD connections. My SD cards keep blowing up. Wonder why no-one makes handy dandy sdspi modules for PIC.
  • James Ross July 8, 2008 at 7:50pm
    This looks really good, Paul. And all with just one cog.

    I can't wait to see the second half. Building waypoints in GE and dropping it on the SD card would be really convenient.
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