Wireless GPS 2.0

Overview

As of May 2016, I started working part-time (beside my master studies) in the engineering team of the Computer Engineering Group (ETH TEC) within ETH TIK. My main task was to develop the next-generation of the Wireless GPS module within the Permasense project. My work involved complete hardware design and embedded software development. After prototyping, the device went into production state. As a result, 30 pieces are going to be deployed in the Swiss mountains and glaciers this year.

Major hardware features:

• Ultra-low power system design
• Roboust hardware design for high-alpine environment
• Ultra-low power Cortex-M4 core microcontroller
• High precision, concurrent GNSS timing module
• Low-power radio module
• GSM/GPRS and UMTS/HSPA capable cellular module
• Dual-logging system with two SD cards for reduntant data storage, FAT file system support
• High-precision inclinometers
• Inertial measurement unit
• Temperature & humidity sensing
• Fits into two different types of enclosures
• Supports mounting frames with as low as 2mm standoff height

Major software features:

• FreeRTOS Real-Time Operating System
• Roboust, fail-safe software design
• Self-customized RTOS kernel for ultra-low power consumption
• Advanced RTOS tracing support for debugging
• Custom bootloader for firmware updates
• FAT32 support for SD cards
• Self-test and self-monitoring features
• Detailed hardware-testing feature for production: manufacture, flash, connect to PC via USB and immediately see results of hardware-test to quickly identify possible manufacturing and/or component issues
• USB device support:
  • USB DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade) support: if bootloader needs to be upgraded
  • USB MSC (Mass Storage Class) support: SD card can be mounted directly to PC, without ejecting it from the device
  • USB CDC (Communication Device Class) support: for serial communication and command-line interface

More information:

• Permasense Consortium
• ETH TEC - Computer Engineering Group: Permasense Environmental Monitoring
• ETH TIK - Computer Engineering and Networks Laboratory

Pictures