Page 252 - Build Your Own Quadcopter_ Power Up Your Designs with the Parallax Elev-8

Chapter 8: GPS and a Real- T ime Situational Displa y 231

The XBee functional test demonstrated how simple it is to set up a communications link
that could transfer GPS data. The operational software for both the transmitter and receiver
nodes was described, and I determined the operational range for the XBee link, which is
compatible with the Elev-8 operating profile.
Next, we looked at a complete GPS system and the modified software for the transmitter
node. I showed how the system displays GPS data on a PSerT screen and on a portable LCD
display. The latter display makes it easy to use in a field-deployable ground station.
I showed a compact design for an onboard GPS/XBee module that may be easily
mounted on an Elev-8. The design is resistant to disruptions that might be caused by
quadcopter vibrations.
The chapter concluded with a look at how to use the Google Earth application with real-
time GPS. I explained how easy it is to enter GPS coordinates manually into Google Earth to
show the quadcopter’s position in the application.