Geocaching SuperBox project

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Interfacing
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Hey all, I'd like to create a geocaching 'superbox' as it were, and think that the arduino may be a great device for tying everything together. What all parts could you guys picture being necessary to accomplish what I've described below?

Thanks for any ideas!
X

Project: Geocaching SuperBox

Goal: Design and build a low cost diy GPS system for geocaching that meets the following criteria.

1.Excellent GPS reception and accuracy. Good signal reception even under tree canopy.

2.Hand held, self contained unit. (no external wires / dangling antenna). Complete unit should be approximately the size of an external usb HD enclosure. Weigh less than or not much more than around 3 pounds.

3.Clear / easy to read medium to large display (backlight/touchscreen?).
(Must be sunlight/dirt/moisture friendly.)

4.Rugged. (Water/dust/dirt/impact resistent) Easlily cleaned with damp cloth. (These will often be used while hiking around in wooded areas) Able to be dropped from 4 feet onto earth / dirt without sustaining (non-cosmetic) damage. (Carrying strap/belt clip?) (Screen cover/protector?)

5.Simple interface.
Display current Lat/Long, destination Lat/Long, distance to next waypoint.
User selection of English or Metric distance.
Digital compass, user selectable between magnetic compass bearing and relative direction to next waypoint.
Allow for manual Lat/Long waypoint entry through touchscreen or button interface.
(USB) and (Bluetooth or WiFi) waypoint file management. (Upload/Download waypoint files from computer/cellphone)
Use standard Geocaching.com waypoint file format to avoid file conversion steps.
User able to mark waypoints as found in memory.
6.Standard SD card or USB Memory Stick for logging/storage.
7.Track GPS log of session path. Log both path and speed. (Time/date?)
8.Totally Opensource / Openhardware solution.
9.Receive an 'B+' or better on the Wife Acceptance report card.
10.STABLE. (We don't want to lose our good WAF grade because it's buggy!)

Bonus criteria:
1.Voice prompts. (Spoken distance to waypoint(s).)
2.Rechargable w/o removal of batteries. (USB? Onboard dynamo?)
3.Use standard / readily available battery packs. (Cordless phone handset NiMh batteries?)

Super Bonus criteria:
1.Able to enhance GPS accuracy with two or more other Geocaching SuperBoxes. (triangulation of positions to enhance GPS accuracy between 3 or more units based on each individual GPS reading + RF information from WiFi?)
2.Keep costs low by using existing hardware / kits where possible. Use widely available and inexpensive parts wherever possible. Minimal parts.
3.Stylish exterior design. (We don't want it to look like something we duct taped together in the garage!)

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"We don't want it to look like something we duct taped together in the garage!)"

Well then your probably hanging with the wrong crowd here. :wink:

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9.Receive an 'B+' or better on the Wife Acceptance report card.

What sort of wife have you got? Mine wouldn't give a B+ if it looked like an iPhone.

Seriously that spec it a bit idealistic and is mainly defined by components other than the Arduino. It also puts a bit of a strain on the physical construction techniques of the box as well. While an Arduino can cope with a SD card it can't talk to a USB memory stick.

Totally Opensource / Openhardware solution

This implies that it has already been done.

Sorry I think this is several steps up for the sort of thing we usually see here but if you do manage it then please post it.

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Grumpy Mike, you can now! usb data logger

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Thanks I didn't know about that card, but it is cheating a bit to say the Arduino can read a USB memory stick.

It's more like the Arduino can interface to another processor that can read a USB memory stick.

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buy a Mio, or a Garmin GPS.

For all these things you want, it will cost you less.

teoxan