>I was approached by an astronomer for a device to point north that does not
> rely on a magnetic compass. He needs to be able to accuratly point north
> without also seeing the stars. (cloud cover while setting up in the hopes
> of a break when you need it)
>
> The microwave crowd also needs an accurate azimuth direction indicator,
> right?
>
> Anyway.... this is the best I could come up with. I'm waaaayyyy too busy
> to
> build something like this, so if someone wants to run with it and turn it
> into a product... have at it. (if it's feasable)
>
> Here's the idea:
>
> Product would be about the size of a shoe box?
>
> Cheap GPS receiver pumps out NEMA data every second. (faster would be
> better)
> That data is sent to a microprocessor.
> WHILE you are driving on a relatively nice road with few trees by the side
> of the road, (for good GPS coverage)
> the microprocessor continually takes GPS points and continually
> averages
> your direction of travel. (some algorithm work here as averaging GPS data
> points is an art all to itself)
> Now that the microprocessor has a continual average of direction of
> travel...
> A Gyro from a RC helicopter is used to continually store the direction of
> travel and report any changes made to it back to the microprocessor.
> (more
> algorithm work-determining when to stop accepting GPS inputs) No, I
> don't
> know how accurate gyros from RC helicopters are. Sorry. It would have to
> be pretty accurate to work for this application.
>
> So after a few miles at highway speeds, the box would "settle out" and
> converge on your exact direction and each input you make to it. As you
> slow
> down, the box would stop accepting GPS inputs because they would be too
> close together. When you come to a stop, the gyro would continue to hold
> the true direction data and you'd take the box over to your tripod and
> mount
> it. (unclear of what the mounts look like) The box would have to have a
> true side on it like a level or square and indications for which direction
> it is currently pointing.
>
> Ideas? Thoughts?
>
> Should I go back to the drawing board?
>
> Tyler
>
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