GPS (Global Position System) is a navigation system based on satellites, made up of at least 24 satellites. It is capable of working in any weather conditions, and from anywhere in the world. GPS satellites transmit at least 2 low-power radio signals. The signals travel by line of sight, meaning they will pass through clouds, glass and plastic but will not go through most solid objects, such as buildings and mountains. However, modern receivers are more sensitive and can usually track through houses. The NEO-6M module comes with an external antenna and does not come with header pins. So you will need to solder it. This module can be connected and mounted on Arduino and made to work accordingly.
Components
A GPS module consists of 4 pins:-
1. VCC: Positive power pin
2. RX: UART receive pin
3. TX: UART transmit pin
4. GND: Ground
Other than that, a GPS module has
1. NEO-6M GPS Chip
It is responsible for tracking satellites to get location.
2. 3.3V LDO Regulator
The operating voltage of the NEO-6M chip is from 2.7 to 3.6V. But, the module comes with MIC5205 ultra-low dropout 3V3 regulator from MICREL. The logic pins are also 5-volt tolerant, so we can easily connect it to an Arduino or any 5V logic microcontroller without using any logic level converter.
3. Position Fix LED Indicator
There is an LED on the NEO-6M GPS Module which indicates the status of Position Fix. It’ll blink at various rates depending on what state it’s in.
4. Battery & EEPROM
An EEPROM together with a battery helps retain the battery backed RAM (BBR).
How to use
Tutorial – ()
https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/ruchir1674/how-to-interface-gps-module-neo-6m-with-arduino-8f90ad
Common Applications
1. Location – determining a position.
2. Navigation – getting from one location to another.
3. Tracking – monitoring object or personal movement.
Some example projects that students can try out in the ATL Lab
1. Build a destination notifier using Arduino –
https://www.hackster.io/amalmathewtech/arduino-gps-module-destination-notifier-288a55
2. Vehicle Tracking System –
https://circuitdigest.com/microcontroller-projects/vehicle-tracking-system-using-arduino-gps-and-gsm
Safety Measures to follow
1. Make sure that the connections are made right and wait for the LED to start blinking to ensure that it’s working.
Important Links
1. How GPS works –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCcARVbL_Dk
2. How to use a neo 6m module (https://youtu.be/yKtngUPFJbU)
YouTube Video
