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The Global Positioning System is a space-based satellite navigation system. GPS is made
up of 24 satellites. Subscription fees are not required in order to use GPS. (What is GPS?, 2014)
In the study conducted by Mane and Rana (2014), GPS Module was used to detect the
accident location. The present study will use the built-in GPS receiver on Android phones.
Function of GPS
The GPS satellites send signals to the ground equipment. GPS receiver requires a clear
view of the sky. The signals arrive at slightly different times on a GPS receiver because some
satellites are far away than others (Polaris Land Surveying LLC, 2014). The GPS receiver can
calculate its position by estimating its distance to at least four GPS satellites. GPS satellites
transmit data with the indicated location and current time (Navleb, 2014).
Accuracy of GPS
The accuracy of the position identified by the GPS receiver depends on the type of
receiver. Most of the hand-held units like Android phones have about 10 to 20 meters accuracy.
(Griffin D., 2014)
Microcontroller
A microcontroller is a device which integrates a number of the components of a
microprocessor system onto a single microchip and is optimized to interact with the outside
world through on-board interfaces; i.e. it is a little gadget that houses a microprocessor, ROM
(Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), I/O (Input Output functions, and
various other specialized circuits all in one package.
A microprocessor is normally optimized to co-ordinate the flow of information between
separate memory and peripheral devices which are located outside itself. Connections to a
microprocessor include address, control and data busses that allow it to select one of its
peripherals and send or retrieve data from it. Because a microcontrollers processor and
peripherals are built on the same silicon, the devices are self-contained and rarely have any bus
structures extending outside their packages.
Therefore, a microcontroller incorporates onto the same microchip the following
(Fig. 2. ):
A timer module to allow the microcontroller to perform tasks for certain time periods.
A serial I/O port to allow data to flow between the microcontroller and other devices such
as a PC or another microcontroller.
An ADC to allow the microcontroller to accept analogue input data for processing.
Programming Language
The raw language used in programming microcontrollers is the machine language.
It uses hexadecimal characters for rendering which reduces efficiency for human because
of the need to memorize commands. In order to make programming easier, people began
using higher languages like C. Higher language uses words and numbers as commands
which are easier to memorize. There are three steps for programming a microcontroller.
(1) write a program, (2) compile the program, (3) and upload the program. Compilers will
be used to translate the higher program into machine languages while uploaders are used
to transfer program from a PC (user interface) into the microcontroller.
There are no written standards when programming microcontrollers so it all
depends on preference and availability. Each has its very own feature, language, compiler
and a different method of uploading the program to the controller.
PIC Microcontroller
A peripheral interface controllers (PIC) microcontroller is one of the advanced
microcontrollers developed by microchip technologies. It integrates all types of advance
interfacing ports and memory modules. A typical PIC Microcontroller has 20 to 60 pins
that control the input and output from the microcontroller. It is usually integrated into a
circuit board and programmed using C language. PIC Microcontrollers are quickly
replacing computers when it comes to programming robotic devices. The
microcontrollers are small and can be programmed to carry out a number of tasks and are
ideal for school and industrial projects. A simple program is written using a computer,
and then it is downloaded to a microcontroller which in turn can control a robotic device
(V, Ryan, 2002).