Performance of low cost Global Positioning System (GPS) module in location tracking device

Abstract

Recently, there has been increasing interest in the use of tracking devices for patients, sportsmen, children, as well as vehicles and robotics applications, for various reasons. Low cost Global Positioning System (GPS) device has been popular due to the increase in accuracy of this system as well as improved affordability. This paper designs a low-cost system for position tracking using common low cost off-the-shelf GPS module which is commonly used by developer in the design and prototype stages and studies its accuracy performance. Accuracies in terms of error between real and measured values, are measured whilst the system is stationary and in motion; particularly whilst walking and driving. The presence of obstacles and movement of the system has been identified as important factors which defined the performance of the system. It has been shown that average error distances from the system are minimal in the order of less than 7 metre (m), both whilst stationary and in motion. Using the system whilst driving gave highest average error of 6.66 m. The results are encouraging for system developer, as it points to the applicability of low cost GPS system for implementation in location tracking device.