Category Archives: Navigator

Navigator 2: Install Navit

Navit is a free and open-source car navigation that support for various vector map formats. Is written in C/C++ and can run on a wide range of machines, included Raspberry Pi.

Installation:

Before start the installation, be sure to have the GPS module connected and working on your Raspberry Pi (previous post).

  • turn on the raspberry and open the terminal
  • update with sudo apt-get update and sudo atp-get upgrade
  • configure GPS listeners from boot: sudo nano /etc/rc.local
  • copy those commands:
  • sudo systemctl stop gpsd.socket
  • sudo systemctl disable gpsd.socket
  • sudo gpsd /dev/serial0 -F /var/run/gpsd.sock
  • save and reboot
  • open terminal and type: sudo apt-get install navit
  • download a map (.bin), use Planet Extractor, quick and simple (you can use Garmin maps too)
  • copy the map inside /home/pi/navit directory (you can rename it with a shorter name)
  • navigate to /etc/navit
  • open the navit.xml file: sudo nano navit.xml
  • search for the line <mapset enabled=”yes”> … </mapset> and change yes to no
  • now look for the line after: <!– Mapset template for openstreetmaps –>
  • in the line after, set your map path instead of: “media/mmc2/Mapsnavit/osm_europe.bin”

  • save and close
  • start Navit

More information about configurations can be found here: Navit Wiki

 

Navigator 1: Connect GPS Module

Requirements:

  • GY-NEO6MV2 GPS (or other GPS module, IO ports are similar)
  • Raspberry Pi
  • some cables

Before start, be sure that the GPS Module is near a window or better outside, indoor could take more time to get the satellite signal or even not signal at all.

Connections: GPS Module < – > Raspberry Pi

  • GND < – > GND
  • VCC < – > 5v or 3v3 (depend on your module)
  • RX < – > TDX (pin 8)
  • TX < – > RXD (pin 10)

Open Raspberry Pi IO ports

  • start Raspberry
  • open terminal and type raspi-config
  • select Interfacing Options
  • select Serial
  • say NO to ssh over serial
  • say YES to serial port hardware
  • select OK
  • select Finish
  • reboot

Get data from the GPS module

  • start raspberry
  • open terminal and type  sudo apt-get install gpsd gpsd-clients
  • type  cat /dev/serial0
  • you should get a cyclic NMEA sentences output like the following:

$GPRMC,235316.000,A,4003.9040,N,10512.5792,W,0.09,144.75,141112,,*19
$GPGGA,235317.000,4003.9039,N,10512.5793,W,1,08,1.6,1577.9,M,-20.7,M,,0000*5F
$GPGSA,A,3,22,18,21,06,03,09,24,15,,,,,2.5,1.6,1.9*3E

Now you can start to install Navit or use the gpsd daemon to test the received data:

  • on the terminal type sudo gpsd /dev/serial0 -F var/run/gpsd.sock
  • sudo gpsd -s
  • sudo gpsmon

You should get a more readable output, something like:

gpsmon

gpsd

 

Sprinter Computer Board Planning

Project objective: create a board computer for a camper van

Primary Functions: 

  1. Sat-Nav
  2. Reverse camera
  3. Media Player

Secondary Functions:

  1. Proximity sensors
  2. Dash Cam
  3. ECU Interface
  4. Wifi / Satellite connection

Hardware:

  • Raspberry Pi 4
  • 7″ Touchscreen
  • Neo 6M GPS Module
  • x2 USB Camera or
  • future development: ultrasonic sensors, ODB2 Interface, USB HD and Sim module

Software:

  • Navit (sat-nav)
  • mplayer or OpenCV (reverse camera)
  • Qt5 – PyQt5 – GUI (software management / Interface)
  • custom code (Python, C/C++)

The project will be installed on board of the Sprinter Campervan (still looking for a good name… ! ) and will be called Navigator, inspired by the movie Flight of the Navigator, 1986.

Some parts have been developed, some still on going, other still on planning. I will post updates and full tutorial for replicate the project.

All related post can be found inside the Navigator category.