Step 2.1: Prepare the GPS

Update Firmware and configure the GPS modules.

Update Firmware and configure the GPS board

Prerequisites

  • An Ardusimple F9P GPS board
  • A Micro USB Cable
  • A Windows PC
  • Latest v1 version of the u-center software:
    ๐Ÿ”—ย https://www.u-blox.com/en/product/u-center
    Don’t get u-center V2, you will need u-center v1 for the F9P.
  • The GPS configuration file
    ๐Ÿ”—ย robot-fw-1_51.txt
    This will open in a new browser tab. Use Ctrl+S to download the file.

Step 2.1.0: Update Firmware

Update the firmware of your Ardusimple board to version ZED-F9P HPG 1.51 - link here. There’s a guide on the Ardusimple Website.

Step 2.1.1: Open u-center and connect to your GPS

After installing u-center, connect your Ardusimple board using the “Power+GPS” USB socket to your Windows computer. You should see the blue LEDs of the board come on and Windows should recognize the device as a COM port. With the module connected to your PC, open the u-center software.

In u-center, first connect to your board by selecting the appropriate COM port in the Receiver -> Connection menu.

Step 2.1.2: Transfer the configuration to the GPS

Transfer Settings to u-center

After successfully connecting to the board, you can transfer the previously downloaded configuration file robot-fw-1_51.txt by opening the window Tools -> Receiver Configuration .... In this window you open the robot-fw-1_51.txt using the ... button and then transfer the configuration to the GPS by clicking the Transfer File -> GNSS button.

Step 2.1.3: Save configuration to Flash

Save Settings to Flash

In order to keep the GPS configured even after powering it down, you need to save the current configuration to Flash memory. In order to do this, select View -> Configuration View. In the new window you need to select CFG (Configuration) in the list on the left side and then enable Save current configuration. Make sure that 0 - BBR and 1 - FLASH are both selected on the right side of the window. Once that’s done, click the Send button in the lower toolbar of the window.

Once successful, there will be a timer showing on the upper right side of the window. This is the timer since the last message was sent to your GPS board. It should be 0s directly after clicking Send.

Step 2.1.4: Done ๐ŸŽ‰

Your GPS is now configured for use with the Open Mower software. You can disconnect it from your Windows PC.

  1. Connect your UM9xx to your PC using the supplied USB-C cable

  2. Open a serial terminal (minicom, miniterm, CuteCom, etc.) at 115200 baud

  3. Send CONFIGโŽ Enter to verify the connection. You should see readable key/value style output. If not, check cable, port, and permissions.

  4. Reset and switch the baud rate to 921600 by entering the following commands, line by line:

    FRESETโŽ Enter
    CONFIG COM1 921600โŽ Enter

    (After FRESET the module may take a few seconds to respond.)

  5. Re-check connection with the simple CONFIG command. If you don’t get similar results than before, change your serial terminal speed to 921600 baud (re-open if necessary) and run CONFIG again, till your get a reasonable response

  6. Apply the rover configuration by entering the following commands, line by line:

    MODE ROVER UAVโŽ Enter
    GPGSV COM1 2โŽ Enter
    GPRMC COM1 1โŽ Enter
    GPGSA COM1 1โŽ Enter
    GPVTG COM1 1โŽ Enter
    GPGST COM1 1โŽ Enter
    GPGGA COM1 0.2โŽ Enter
    SAVECONFIGโŽ Enter

    Take attention to the SAVECONFIG command, which stores settings so they survive power cycles.

  7. Unplug the USB cable from the UM9x module and mount it to the CarrierBoard (solder required headers first if required).

Alternative Instruction

wiki, optional adapter, set-up guide

Continue with Step 2.2: Prepare the SD Card