New GPS module--Tiny 10Hz Mediatek unit (just $38.95!)

Great news! Jordi has now released the awesome new (and tiny!) 10Hz Mediatek GPS module attached to an adapter that makes it 100% ArduPilot (and ArduIMU and ArduPilot Mega) compatible. All in one--no soldering required--and you won't believe how small it is! (And just $38.95!) It's preloaded with custom DIY Drones firmware so it outputs an efficient binary protocol optimized for UAV use. Sample code is provide here and will be added to ArduPilot, ArduIMU and ArduPilot Mega over the next month.

We like this one a lot. It's nearly as good as the uBlox module, but cheaper and smaller. We'll be supporting it as a recommended GPS module going forward.

Here's the product description:

State-of-the-art 66 channels MediaTek MT3329 GPS Engine

High sensitivity: Up to -165dBm tracking, superior urban performance
USB/UART Interface
Build-in patch antenna for optimal sensitivity
DGPS(WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS) support (optional by firmware)
Maximum update rate : up to 10Hz (optional by firmware)
RoHS compliant

Note that the new MediaTek has custom and exclusive "DIYDrones" firmware that allows the unit to output an efficient and very compressed binary protocol. You can still change between NMEA and Binary protocol with standard MTK messages, and switch the refresh rate between 1hz to 10hz, or set any standard serial baud rate (by default is set to 38400 bps and custom binary protocol).

Features:
-Based on MediaTek Single Chip Architecture.
-Dimension：16mm x 16mm x 6mm
-L1 Frequency, C/A code, 66 channels
-High Sensitivity：Up to -165dBm tracking, superior urban performances
-Position Accuracy：< 3m CEP (50%) without SA (horizontal)
-Cold Start is under 35 seconds (Typical)
-Warm Start is under 34 seconds (Typical)
-Hot Start is under 1 second (Typical)
-Low Power Consumption：48mA @ acquisition, 37mA @ tracking
-Low shut-down current consumption：15uA, typical
-DGPS(WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS) support (optional by firmware)
-USB/UART Interface
-Support AGPS function ( Offline mode : EPO valid up to 14 days )

SgtRic, good point. I should have been more clear: this site (DIY Drones) is not meant to be a commercial operation. We operate it on a non-profit basis for the good of the community. I was actually referring to our spin-off company, 3D Robotics, which runs the store and our commercial products. We do hope to create a viable company there, not because we hope to get rich (it would be great just to break even!), but because we think that's the only way to make technology available in cheap, easy-to-use form.

Just to give you one example: the way to make things like GPS modules cheaper to users is to buy them in quantity. Let's say they cost $50 each in units of $1,000. That's $50,000 of up-front costs, just for one component. You can see how this quickly becomes very expensive. The only way we can do this is to have a very rich benefactor who is going to give us a few million dollars (good luck), or to run the operation like a proper company (minus the intellectual property right protection, since we're open source and give all the IP away.)

We're one of an emerging class of open source hardware companies (like MakerBot or AdaFruit) who all operate the same way. Open source software can be free to all. Open source hardware cannot, because the components have real costs that must be paid for. Instead, we "give away the bits and sell the atoms", charging just enough over cost to ensure that we can continue to keep the component and product pipeline full and avoid running out of stock of stuff and making people wait too long.

You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!

Join diydrones

Comments

3D Robotics

Chris Anderson July 29, 2010 at 9:26am

Graham, the navigation loop does indeed run at 10Hz in ArduPilot/Mega.
Moderator

Graham Dyer July 29, 2010 at 9:19am

Connected mine up today, bought the board and gps unattached so had to solder them together which is quite tight but fairly easy to do. Got a cold fix in about 3 minutes and then had solid GPS data from it.

A question: when navigating will ArduPilot utilise the full 10Hz update rate of this GPS and navigate accordingly?
Christopher Beasley July 13, 2010 at 3:15pm

Awesome Tony!
I have mine plugged in and it locked up the first time inside a metal stud building!
Steady blue light on now!
Can someone point me towards a introduction "installing the ardupilot pre-alpha for newbies"?
NewBeez
Tony H July 2, 2010 at 3:25pm

Works great with the APM and Oil Pan IMU. I did a road test earlier this week and retrieved the data off of the IMU's black box. If I were to zoom in, you can clearly see where I pulled over and stopped for ice cream :)
It is zoomed out too far to see all of the data points clearly. The change in color is due to elevation changes.
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson June 26, 2010 at 9:20pm

John, those specs are all from the manufacturer. That's MediaTek's claim, not ours!
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson June 26, 2010 at 10:28am

SgtRic, good point. I should have been more clear: this site (DIY Drones) is not meant to be a commercial operation. We operate it on a non-profit basis for the good of the community. I was actually referring to our spin-off company, 3D Robotics, which runs the store and our commercial products. We do hope to create a viable company there, not because we hope to get rich (it would be great just to break even!), but because we think that's the only way to make technology available in cheap, easy-to-use form.

Just to give you one example: the way to make things like GPS modules cheaper to users is to buy them in quantity. Let's say they cost $50 each in units of $1,000. That's $50,000 of up-front costs, just for one component. You can see how this quickly becomes very expensive. The only way we can do this is to have a very rich benefactor who is going to give us a few million dollars (good luck), or to run the operation like a proper company (minus the intellectual property right protection, since we're open source and give all the IP away.)

We're one of an emerging class of open source hardware companies (like MakerBot or AdaFruit) who all operate the same way. Open source software can be free to all. Open source hardware cannot, because the components have real costs that must be paid for. Instead, we "give away the bits and sell the atoms", charging just enough over cost to ensure that we can continue to keep the component and product pipeline full and avoid running out of stock of stuff and making people wait too long.
Moderator

Sgt Ric June 26, 2010 at 9:57am

I believe Chris did himself a disservice by stating that this site was indeed a commercial venture and simply leaving it at that.

I have been following this community for several years and know its roots are in fact that of an open-source gathering of users with a similiar interest and passion, meant to share and disseminate ideas and passions.

Even the most cursory research will show that Chris has been, and still is, involved in a wide range of ventures which prove that DIYDrones is not meant to be his "cash cow" and unlikey to become the next Boeing or Raytheon. To equate this site to a commercial one like MicrPilot or U-Nav overlooks the dedication and frustration I know Chris and Jordi (and many of the admins) face daily in dealing with the mindnumbing level of questions and often inane comments on the site.

While LewPayne may have had some interesting ideas at times, the one thing he did not have was, RESPECT !

This is still Chris's (and Jordi's) site and they shouldn't have to take sh&t from anyone!
3D Robotics

Chris Anderson June 25, 2010 at 7:28pm

Lew was privately warned to stop being a negative force and attacking people. He chose to increase his attacks instead. This is a moderated community, and we have lots of admins tasked with making this as friendly and positive a place as possible. We have a low tolerance for jerks. If you're mean to people, you'll get a private warning. If you're mean again, you'll be banned.

We know that people can sign back on under fake names. But we have ways of tracking these things. We'll try to keep abuse to a minimum for the sake of a better experience for everyone.

Constructive criticism is encouraged and even unconstructive criticism is allowed, as long as it isn't personal. Even when we ban people we tend to leave their comments here, so the views are allowed to live on (unless they're personal attacks). Furthermore, there is a big Internet out there, and people have no shortage of places to have their say elsewhere. This community has pretty strict rules for good behavior, with the hopes that it will not descend into pointless acrimony like so many others. But nobody (other than spammers) gets banned without being warned first.
Matthew M June 25, 2010 at 6:57pm

I enjoyed the fact the Lew seemed to have so much time to devote in debunking other users bogus claims. Lew you will be missed. I suspect Lew is actually a host of other characters often feeding and validating off of each others comments to serve one goal. I also have a feeling Lew will be reincarnated in "another user" at least in spirit. That's just my crazy opinion! ;)
Moderator

Brian June 25, 2010 at 5:38pm

What we don't see when a member is banned is the number of times that they may have been warned outside of public view. I like the fact that attacks are not allowed (period). That's not to say we as individuals can not have different opionions, cause you're not going to have a room full of people who share the same opinion on every topic, so it's impossible here. It's the fact that we choose to remain civil during our exchange that makes the difference. Lew could have chose a better way to express his opinions, backed up with facts as necessary and accomplished his goal with a different outcome, but he didn't.

of 4

This reply was deleted.