This is a placeholder topic for “SparkFun Triband GNSS RTK Breakout - mosaic-X5” comments.

The SparkFun mosaic-X5 Triband GNSS RTK Breakout you’ll be provided with the easiest way to get started using L1, L2, and L5 GPS bands simultaneously!..
Read more
Hello, we are creating a self driving robot buggy that needs to position itself within 1-2cm of exact GPS position.
From what I understand, this is achieved with GNSS and RTK.
I need to know the direction the robot faces and it’s exact position.
Can you offer any guidance on the correct components to make this work?
2 Likes
Hey @Ty214627, Welcome to the forums!
This sounds like an awesome project. You are definitely on the right track with GNSS and RTK. RTK can be accurate down to a few centimetres (±1.9mm with an ideal setup), so this sounds like the right technology to be looking into.
As for direction, it sounds like a magnetometer would be a solid solution. This particular SparkFun one has a heading accuracy of ±0.5°.
Have you decided on any other specs for the rest of the buggy? If you have already decided on a controller, it would be easier to choose components that play nicely with the preexisting system.
Hope this helps!
1 Like
Hi Ty,
Welcome!
I’ve got a few questions that ought to help provide some more insight into your project.
What is the application for this?
What environment will you be operating in?
Do you have some photos of your buggy? Do you have additional sensors like encoders onboard?
There are definitely teirs of pose estimation in projects (and you’ll never be able to know where something is for certain).
If you are using ROS, a 9-DOF IMU, with GPS and other state feedback will give you pretty good results.
Hello, thank you for the replies.
What is the application for this?
- I can’t say exactly at the moment, but it’s an outdoor Rover that will need to drive around a predetermined path, inside a field/paddock. The land is always clear of any obstructions, there just grass.
- for all intents and purposes, think a robot mower, but no need to avoid trees etc
What environment will you be operating in?
- outdoor, clear view of the sky.
- I planned on putting a temporary base station at each site, hopefully allow it to configure for 5mins or so and the rover can start.
Do you have some photos of your buggy?
- I haven’t made it yet. Right now, I just have an Arduino Uno, motor driver, and 4 12v motors connected to a lithium battery sitting on my workbench. – fair to say it’s early stages.
Do you have additional sensors like encoders onboard?
- the Arduino will be given instructions from a Jetson Nano (I did this in a previous AI project)
- the plan was to connect the RTK rover, and IMU to the Jetson, my python code will give instructions to the Arduino
ROS seems to keep coming up in my research, so perhaps that is the best choice for driving the rover.
I’m unsure what to purchase to make the GPS RTK work well.
I know I need a base station and something on the rover, but I’m not sure what is best and good value for money.
The sparkfun RTK express seems like it would make for a suitable Base Station, but any experience/guidance would be awesome?
Then I don’t know what goes in the rover, any product suggestions?
Is my plan to connect the Jetson to the IMU and RTK boards good plan, or should there be another device in-between?
1 Like