Hi all -
I would like to track my general movement, both indoors and outdoors, over the course of a month.
My initial search suggested I might want a Neo 7M module, but I am getting the impression that the resolution might not be as fine enough for what I am looking to do.
As with most things, I would like to do this as cheaply as possible, but with the most quality available for the low price point.
Any suggestions?
Two points: GPS very often does not work indoors, and the positional accuracy is about the same for all of the genuine, commercially available consumer modules.
Beware of counterfeit modules, which are common, cheap and perform very badly or not at all. Buy from a reputable supplier, not Alibaba.
The positional accuracy is limited by the way GPS system works, not the module, and is in the very best case about +/- 2m (often much worse).
For higher accuracy, as in surveying, RTK techniques require expensive additional equipment and one or more reference base stations.
In a lot of situations a GPS will not work indoors, unless its in a wooden shed.
Outdoors in open areas then position accuracy is in the region of 2-5m but can be worse especially around high rise buildings in cities or wooded areas in the country.
Apple (air tags, for example) uses relative distance between devices for target device location, inside and outside. That sounds like triangulating signal arrival time.
Would this be another possible application for a gyro/accelo/magnometer? I don't necessarily need globally-relative coordinates, as much as basic paths of movement over short distances.
Consumer grade IMUs can give 3D orientation, but not position. The sensors are too inaccurate and noisy for speed and location calculations.
so there's no reasonably affordable way to do this?
You haven't explained well enough what you want to do, except in very vague terms.
For example, what exactly do you mean by "tracking indoors"? Most people know where they are, while indoors.
With what accuracy do you want to track position?
Does being in automobiles or buses count?
Hint: there are plenty of smart phone apps that will track and log your location, as the phones already do that by one means or another, at all times. Accuracy is not great.
Well, in my defense, most of what I've heard so far is "this won't work indoors" - so it hasn't seemed necessary.
I would like to keep track of my movement, within an accuracy of about three feet. I would like to create a visual display of my patterns of movement each day. It would be great if I could also include trips to the store, via automobile or bicycle. Maybe even busses, if it came up.
I would prefer not to use a phone, if possible.
That is not a realistic goal.
If you don't believe or can't accept forum members' responses, experiment with a GPS to get a feel for the problems you will encounter.
You being vague is everyone else's fault so you will continue to be vague until someone delivers your pipe dream?
My way of approaching a finished product is to "draw" that idea, technically, ideally, physically. Then, I "draw" what I need as the input to that final product, which could come from any selected device. I continue working backwards from each device, recursively, toward the beginning. Each stage should have an input from a precious stage's output. Every stage, input and output must have an explanation. When done, you have a map for your plan.
Just quit nagging.
That hardly gets you off on the right foot, but have a nice life.
I am happy to answer questions, but when you pull this stuff...
... you get what you asked.
If you do not like my answers, that's not my problem. If you complain about my answers, that becomes a problem. Stick to Q and A.
That "completion backwards principle" works... try it.
No, and GPS (or any other satellite tracking system) does not work indoors because the satellite signal does not penetrate walls.
Your rude reply deleted, your use of rude language has earned you a 2 day suspension.
Everyone else,
I think your points have been made, please return to helping @grismeldo if you have help to give.
Thank you
So a tracker with an accuracy of about 1m, indoors and out;
"with the most quality available for the low price point"
So even ignoring the indoors bit you want a tracker for outdoors that is way beyond the accuracy and capability of low price point GPSs.
Stop and think a moment, if what you want, especially the indoors bit, were possible at a 'low price point' such a system would have a very wide range of applications and you might expect large numbers of such systems to be produced and in use, easy to find and cheap on eBay too.
@grismeldo
In a big shopping mall in my town they use something called UWB (Ultra Wide Band) for tracking indoors. The modules are not cheap but might be justifiable for your project if you don't need very many.
Available from Pozyx, which incidentally offered an Arduino starter kit. May be discontinued now, though.
Out of interest, in a typical indoor location, such as a shopping mall, how far apart would the fixed location anchors need to be spaced ?
Apple Airtag uses bluetooth arrival time with other Apple devices, not GPS. Same as pozyx and makerfabs demonstrate (post #19).