ECE 477 Digital Systems Senior Design Project Fall 2005

Homework 1: Preliminary Design Project Proposal

Due: Thursday, September 1, at Classtime

Team Code Name: ______Group No. 6

Team Members (#1 is Team Leader):

#1: Marcus Funk Signature: ______Date: ____/____/______

#2: Logan Burns Signature: ______Date: ____/____/______

#3: Nikhil Gahlawat Signature: ______Date: ____/____/______

#4: Lindsey Hall Signature: ______Date: ____/____/______

Abstract:

The purpose of this project is to design and build a GPS-based navigational system to provide real-time directions to the user. The device would be built to follow a pre-determined route stored in memory and would guide the user along the route using GPS and navigational sensors. Navigational information will be provided via LCD interface as well as via audio commands announced through a speaker (i.e. “turn left”). The vehicle-based unit would have two modes of operation, one for calibration and route entry, and the second for guidance and use. A simple keypad interface will be used in conjunction with the LCD to control the unit. Potential commercial applications include public transportation guidance (i.e. CityBus) and shipping/packing industries (i.e. FedEx or UPS).

Design Objectives:

·  Receive data from the GPS chip

·  Output data to LCD screen

·  Interface to an external flash memory

·  Create a means to store a route in memory

·  Create an algorithm for accurately following the stored rout

·  Interface with a keypad or some form of user controls

·  Interface with an audio controller and speaker to announce commands

Design/Functionality Overview:

The microcontroller receives the current location of the bus from the GPS chip and uses this to find its location in the specified route (possibly combined with a compass sensor IC). Based upon this and successive information from the GPS the microcontroller displays direction of next turn, and distance to that turn or stop onto the LCD. Additional route/time information possible.

Project-Specific Success Criteria (list 5):

·  Ability to get location from GPS chip

·  Ability to display information correctly on the LCD

·  Ability to store sufficient route data in memory

·  Ability to determine direction the vehicle is moving

·  Ability to accurately guide a vehicle on a stored route

·  Ability to detect a wrong turn and guide the vehicle back on path

·  Ability to display extra information (time, location, and/or direction)

·  Ability to announce commands to the user via a speaker.

Preliminary Block Diagram