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Differential GPS System

The vehicles GPS System provides the coordinates of the vehicles current location. With this information the bot can: calculate a route to its destination; determine if it is following the route correctly; correct its position after it has avoided an obstacle. In addition this system provides a means of tracking the bot along its route in order to monitor its progress.

There are 2 GPS receivers. One located on the vehicle and the other on a stationary base station. The base station will have a previously 'known, exact location' obtained by averaging its location data over a long period of time while stationary, or from previously determined locations. During operation, the base station will receive GPS data at the same time as the vehicle. The base station's data will be compared to it's 'known, exact location' and will calculate an error. This error will be sent to the vehicle via RF transmission and will offset the vehicle's GPS data to an accuracy less than 0.2 meters.