Subject:
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Re: Science Interest
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics.handyboard
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Date:
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Sat, 7 Nov 1998 19:28:29 GMT
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Original-From:
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Rick Moll <rickmoll@mvpSPAMLESS.net>
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Viewed:
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4700 times
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Robbie Berg and Capt. Jack Rutledge:
I'm a big fan of the Handy Board, but you might want to also consider using a
3Com
PalmPilot. The current model, Palm III, has a backlit 160x160 graphics display,
a
2MByte memory, and while I haven't used it, there is a company that makes a GPS
for
it. I know that there are numerous real time mapping products out there already
that use the PalmPilot.
It sounds like your database of "waypoints" would consist primarily of a list
of
X,Y coordinates, and be limited in area, so I would think that a database on the
order of a few 100,000 waypoints could be stored in a Palm III. And if you need
more memory there are lots of other handheld computers out there with graphics
displays.
Since you are a pilot I'm sure you are familiar with GPS technology, but if
you've
never used one for ground based applications you might want to also research
"differential" GPS. I would think that finding a hydrant hidden in some bushes
might require some very good resolution. I've used GPS for hiking and for
mapping
the location of trees and plants, so I know that the real world performance of
*low
cost* GPS units on the ground can be very poor. Some of the toughest places for
a
GPS to perform are in hilly, heavily forested terrain, but also in metropolitan
areas with tall buildings and lots of potential noise sources.
If you're interested check out these websites:
http://www.palm.com/home.html
http://www.delorme.com/
Later,
Rick
> Your ideas sound very interesting! May I suggest that you join the
> following mailing list. It's a hotbed for this sort of discussion:
>
> http://lcs.www.media.mit.edu/groups/el/projects/handy-board/maillist/index.html
>
> > Dear Professor Berg,
> >
> > I came across your page while searching for some information on the LEGO
> > Mindstorm product I want to buy my niece. I wanted to ask for some help
> > on something I’m interested in.
> >
> > I’ve worked both as a Professional Firefighter and Pilot. I am
> > interested in applying technology to firefighting. To fight a
> > structural fire pumpers need to find and connect to a fire hydrant.
> > Knowing the location of the hydrant in relation to he fire building can
> > be difficult at times.
> >
> > My idea is to combine GPS and computer technology by building an
> > inexpensive hydrant finder. A GPS receiver could determine the pumpers
> > exact location, then search a database for the closest waypoint
> > (hydrant) near the pumper. A needle could swing to determine relative
> > bearing and distance.
> >
> > I think all the technology exists today I’m just not sure how to go
> > about putting it all together. Do you have any ideas or thoughts you
> > could pass along to me about this? Thanks.
> >
> > Captain Jack Rutledge
> > 404-715-7331
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Science Interest
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| Dear Capt. Rutledge, Your ideas sound very interesting! May I suggest that you join the following mailing list. It's a hotbed for this sort of discussion: (URL)Dear Professor Berg, (...) ***...*** Robbie Berg Department of Physics, Wellesley College (...) (28 years ago, 6-Nov-98, to lugnet.robotics.handyboard)
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