Intermediate
30 min

Build a fast asset-tracking platform using MAX-M10S and PIC18F2550

Always on the right track

GNSS MAX Click with EasyPIC v8

Published Nov 01, 2023

Click board™

GNSS MAX Click

Dev Board

EasyPIC v8

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC18F2550

Capable of concurrently tracking four GNSS constellations delivering highly reliable location data

A

A

Hardware Overview

How does it work?

GNSS MAX Click is based on the MAX-M10S (MAX-M10S-00B-01), a high-performance GNSS module from u-blox. The MAX-M10S features the u-blox M10 standard precision GNSS platform and provides exceptional sensitivity and acquisition times for all L1 GNSS signals. It also supports concurrent reception of up to four GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou), maximizing position availability, particularly under challenging conditions such as deep urban canyons. The MAX-M10S offers high sensitivity and minimal acquisition times while maintaining low system power. The MAX-M10S module integrates an LNA and a SAW filter in the RF path for maximum sensitivity. Also, it detects jamming and spoofing attempts and reports them to the host so that the system can react to such events. Advanced filtering algorithms mitigate the impact of RF interference and jamming, thus enabling the product to operate as intended.

The u-blox Super-S technology offers great RF sensitivity that improves the dynamic position accuracy by up to 25% with small antennas or in a non-line-of-sight scenario. This Click board™ comes with a configurable host interface that allows communication with MCU using the selected interface. The MAX-M10S can communicate with MCU using the UART interface with commonly used UART RX and TX pins as its default communication protocol operating at 9600bps to transmit and exchange data with the host MCU or using the I2C interface. The I2C interface is compatible with the Fast-Mode allowing a maximum bit rate of 400kbit/s. In addition to these features, it also uses several mikroBUS™ pins. An active-low reset signal routed on the RST pin of the mikroBUS™ socket activates a hardware reset of the system, while the EXT pin routed to the PWM pin on the mikroBUS™ socket represents an external interrupt used for the module

Wake-Up function. It also uses a PPS signal routed on the INT pin of the mikroBUS™ socket alongside a blue LED indicator marked as STATUS used for time pulse signal information and indication. GNSS MAX Click possesses the SMA antenna connector on which an appropriate antenna connects that Mikroe has in its offer for improved range and received signal strength. Also, in the case of the primary supply failure, the module can use a backup supply voltage from a connected battery if you need the Click board™ to be a standalone device. This Click board™ can only be operated from a 3.3V logic voltage level. Therefore, the board must perform appropriate logic voltage conversion before using MCUs with different logic levels. However, the Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing functions and an example code that can be used as a reference for further development.

gnss-max-click-hardware-overview

Features overview

Development board

EasyPIC v8 is a development board specially designed for the needs of rapid development of embedded applications. It supports many high pin count 8-bit PIC microcontrollers from Microchip, regardless of their number of pins, and a broad set of unique functions, such as the first-ever embedded debugger/programmer. The development board is well organized and designed so that the end-user has all the necessary elements, such as switches, buttons, indicators, connectors, and others, in one place. Thanks to innovative manufacturing technology, EasyPIC v8 provides a fluid and immersive working experience, allowing access anywhere and under any

circumstances at any time. Each part of the EasyPIC v8 development board contains the components necessary for the most efficient operation of the same board. In addition to the advanced integrated CODEGRIP programmer/debugger module, which offers many valuable programming/debugging options and seamless integration with the Mikroe software environment, the board also includes a clean and regulated power supply module for the development board. It can use a wide range of external power sources, including a battery, an external 12V power supply, and a power source via the USB Type-C (USB-C) connector.

Communication options such as USB-UART, USB DEVICE, and CAN are also included, including the well-established mikroBUS™ standard, two display options (graphical and character-based LCD), and several different DIP sockets. These sockets cover a wide range of 8-bit PIC MCUs, from the smallest PIC MCU devices with only eight up to forty pins. EasyPIC v8 is an integral part of the Mikroe ecosystem for rapid development. Natively supported by Mikroe software tools, it covers many aspects of prototyping and development thanks to a considerable number of different Click boards™ (over a thousand boards), the number of which is growing every day.

EasyPIC v8 horizontal image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

PIC

MCU Memory (KB)

32

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

28

RAM (Bytes)

2048

You complete me!

Accessories

GNSS Active External Antenna is a unique multi-band type of antenna coming from u-blox that is the perfect selection for high precision GNSS applications, which require highly accurate location abilities such as RTK. The ANN-MB-00 is a multi-band (L1, L2/E5b/B2I) active GNSS antenna with a 5m cable and SMA connector. The antenna supports GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou and includes a high-performance multi-band RHCP dual-feed patch antenna element, a built-in high-gain LNA with SAW pre-filtering, and a 5 m antenna cable with SMA connector, and is waterproof.

GNSS MAX Click accessories image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

NC
NC
AN
Reset
RA0
RST
NC
NC
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
Wake-Up Interrupt
RC1
PWM
Time Pulse Signal
RB1
INT
UART TX
RC6
TX
UART RX
RC7
RX
I2C Clock
RC3
SCL
I2C Data
RC4
SDA
NC
NC
5V
Ground
GND
GND
2

Take a closer look

Schematic

GNSS MAX Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

EasyPIC v8 front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the EasyPIC v8 as your development board.

EasyPIC v8 front image hardware assembly
LTE IoT 5 Click front image hardware assembly
MCU DIP 28 hardware assembly
LTE IoT 5 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
EasyPIC v8 28pin-DIP Access - upright/background hardware assembly
Necto image step 2 hardware assembly
Necto image step 3 hardware assembly
Necto image step 4 hardware assembly
NECTO Compiler Selection Step Image hardware assembly
NECTO Output Selection Step Image hardware assembly
Necto image step 6 hardware assembly
Necto DIP image step 7 hardware assembly
Necto image step 8 hardware assembly
Necto image step 9 hardware assembly
Necto image step 10 hardware assembly
Necto PreFlash Image hardware assembly

Track your results in real time

Application Output via UART Mode

1. Once the code example is loaded, pressing the "FLASH" button initiates the build process, and programs it on the created setup.

2. After the programming is completed, click on the Tools icon in the upper-right panel, and select the UART Terminal.

3. After opening the UART Terminal tab, first check the baud rate setting in the Options menu (default is 115200). If this parameter is correct, activate the terminal by clicking the "CONNECT" button.

4. Now terminal status changes from Disconnected to Connected in green, and the data is displayed in the Received data field.

UART_Application_Output

Software Support

Library Description

This library contains API for GNSSMAX Click driver.

Key functions:

  • gnssmax_generic_read - GNSS MAX data reading function.
  • gnssmax_reset - GNSS MAX reset function.
  • gnssmax_get_pps - GNSS MAX reads timestamp pin state.

Open Source

Code example

This example can be found in NECTO Studio. Feel free to download the code, or you can copy the code below.

/*!
 * @file main.c
 * @brief GNSSMAX Click Example.
 *
 * # Description
 * This example showcases device abillity to read data outputed
 * from device and show it's coordinates and altitude when connected.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initializes host communication modules, additioaln GPIO's used
 * for control of device and resets device.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * Reads data from device and wait's untill device is connected.
 * While not connected it will log '.'. When conneceted and received
 * data for latitude, longitude, and altitude it will log that data
 * parsed from "GNGGA" command.
 *
 * ## Additional Function
 * - static void gnssmax_clear_app_buf ( void )
 * - static err_t gnssmax_process ( void )
 * - static err_t gnssmax_cmd_parser ( char *cmd )
 * - static err_t gnssmax_element_parser ( char *cmd, uint8_t element, char *element_data )
 *
 * @note
 * For the device to connect it can take it from 1 to 10 minutes.
 * Time to connect is depending on weather.
 *
 * @author Luka Filipovic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "gnssmax.h"

#define PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE                     700
#define DATA_BUFFER_SIZE                        30

#define RSP_GNGGA                               "GNGGA"
#define RSP_START                               '$'
#define RSP_SEPARATOR                           ','

#define RSP_GNGGA_LATITUDE_ELEMENT              2
#define RSP_GNGGA_LONGITUDE_ELEMENT             4
#define RSP_GNGGA_ALTITUDE_ELEMENT              9

static gnssmax_t gnssmax;
static log_t logger;

static char app_buf[ PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE ]      = { 0 };
static int32_t app_buf_len                      = 0;
static int32_t app_buf_cnt                      = 0;

static char latitude_data[ DATA_BUFFER_SIZE ]   = { 0 };
static char longitude_data[ DATA_BUFFER_SIZE ]  = { 0 };
static char altitude_data[ DATA_BUFFER_SIZE ]   = { 0 };

err_t last_error_flag;

/**
 * @brief GNSSMAX clearing application buffer.
 * @details This function clears memory of application buffer and reset it's length and counter.
 */
static void gnssmax_clear_app_buf ( void );

/**
 * @brief GNSSMAX data reading function.
 * @details This function reads data from device and concats data to application buffer.
 *
 * @return @li @c GNSSMAX_OK - Read some data.
 *         @li @c GNSSMAX_ERROR - Nothing is read.
 *         @li @c GNSSMAX_ERROR_NO_DATA - Application buffer overflow.
 *
 * See #err_t definition for detailed explanation.
 */
static err_t gnssmax_process ( void );

/**
 * @brief GNSSMAX command data parser.
 * @details This function searches @b app_buf for @b cmd and logs data of that command.
 *
 * @param[in] cmd : Command to parese.
 *
 * @return @li @c GNSSMAX_OK - Parsed data succes.
 *         @li @c GNSSMAX_ERROR - No @b cmd in application buffer.
 *
 * See #err_t definition for detailed explanation.
 */
static err_t gnssmax_cmd_parser ( char *cmd );

/**
 * @brief GNSSMAX element of command data parser.
 * @details This function searches @b app_buf for @b cmd and it's
 *          @b element and copies data to @b element_data buffer.
 *
 * @return @li @c GNSSMAX_OK - Read some data.
 *         @li @c GNSSMAX_ERROR - No @b cmd in application buffer.
 *         @li @c GNSSMAX_ERROR_NO_DATA - No data for @b element in @b cmd.
 *         @li @c GNSSMAX_ERROR_OVERFLOW - Data buffer overflow.
 *
 * See #err_t definition for detailed explanation.
 */
static err_t gnssmax_element_parser ( char *cmd, uint8_t element, char *element_data );

void application_init ( void )
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;  /**< Logger config object. */
    gnssmax_cfg_t gnssmax_cfg;  /**< Click config object. */

    /**
     * Logger initialization.
     * Default baud rate: 115200
     * Default log level: LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG
     * @note If USB_UART_RX and USB_UART_TX
     * are defined as HAL_PIN_NC, you will
     * need to define them manually for log to work.
     * See @b LOG_MAP_USB_UART macro definition for detailed explanation.
     */
    LOG_MAP_USB_UART( log_cfg );
    log_init( &logger, &log_cfg );
    log_info( &logger, " Application Init " );
    Delay_ms( 500 );

    // Click initialization.
    gnssmax_cfg_setup( &gnssmax_cfg );
    GNSSMAX_MAP_MIKROBUS( gnssmax_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    err_t init_flag  = gnssmax_init( &gnssmax, &gnssmax_cfg );
    if ( init_flag == UART_ERROR )
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Application Init Error. " );
        log_info( &logger, " Please, run program again... " );

        for ( ; ; );
    }

    gnssmax_default_cfg( &gnssmax );

    last_error_flag = GNSSMAX_OK;
    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
    Delay_ms( 500 );
}

void application_task ( void )
{
    gnssmax_process();

    err_t error_flag = gnssmax_element_parser( RSP_GNGGA, RSP_GNGGA_LATITUDE_ELEMENT,
                                             latitude_data );

    error_flag |= gnssmax_element_parser(  RSP_GNGGA, RSP_GNGGA_LONGITUDE_ELEMENT,
                                         longitude_data );

    error_flag |= gnssmax_element_parser(  RSP_GNGGA, RSP_GNGGA_ALTITUDE_ELEMENT,
                                         altitude_data );


    if ( error_flag == GNSSMAX_OK )
    {
        if ( last_error_flag != GNSSMAX_OK )
        {
            log_printf( &logger, "\r\n" );
        }
        log_printf( &logger, ">Latitude:\r\n - deg: %.2s \r\n - min: %s\r\n",
                    latitude_data, &latitude_data[ 2 ] );

        log_printf( &logger, ">Longitude:\r\n - deg: %.3s \r\n - min: %s\r\n",
                    longitude_data, &longitude_data[ 3 ] );

        log_printf( &logger, ">Altitude:\r\n - %sm\r\n",
                    altitude_data );

        log_printf( &logger, "----------------------------------------\r\n" );
    }
    else if ( error_flag < GNSSMAX_ERROR )
    {
        if ( last_error_flag == GNSSMAX_OK )
        {
            log_printf( &logger, "Waiting for data " );
        }
        log_printf( &logger, "." );
    }

    if ( error_flag != GNSSMAX_ERROR )
    {
        last_error_flag = error_flag;
        gnssmax_clear_app_buf(  );
    }
}

void main ( void )
{
    application_init( );

    for ( ; ; )
    {
        application_task( );
    }
}

static void gnssmax_clear_app_buf ( void )
{
    memset( app_buf, 0, app_buf_len );
    app_buf_len = 0;
    app_buf_cnt = 0;
}

static err_t gnssmax_process ( void )
{
    int32_t rx_size;
    char rx_buff[ PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE ] = { 0 };

    rx_size = gnssmax_generic_read( &gnssmax, rx_buff, PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE );

    if ( rx_size > 0 )
    {
        int32_t buf_cnt = 0;

        if ( ( app_buf_len + rx_size ) > PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE )
        {
            gnssmax_clear_app_buf(  );
            return GNSSMAX_ERROR_NO_DATA;
        }
        else
        {
            buf_cnt = app_buf_len;
            app_buf_len += rx_size;
        }

        for ( int32_t rx_cnt = 0; rx_cnt < rx_size; rx_cnt++ )
        {
            if ( rx_buff[ rx_cnt ] != 0 )
            {
                app_buf[ ( buf_cnt + rx_cnt ) ] = rx_buff[ rx_cnt ];
            }
            else
            {
                app_buf_len--;
                buf_cnt--;
            }
        }
        return GNSSMAX_OK;
    }
    return GNSSMAX_ERROR;
}

static err_t gnssmax_cmd_parser ( char *cmd )
{
    err_t ret_flag = GNSSMAX_OK;

    if ( strstr( app_buf, cmd ) != GNSSMAX_OK )
    {
        char * __generic_ptr gngga_ptr;

        gngga_ptr = strstr( app_buf, cmd );

        while ( strchr( gngga_ptr, RSP_START ) == GNSSMAX_OK )
        {
            gnssmax_process();
        }

        for ( ; ; )
        {
            log_printf( &logger, "%c", *gngga_ptr );
            gngga_ptr++;

            if ( ( *gngga_ptr == RSP_START ) )
            {
                break;
            }
        }
    }
    else
    {
        ret_flag = GNSSMAX_ERROR;
    }

    return ret_flag;
}

static err_t gnssmax_element_parser ( char *cmd, uint8_t element, char *element_data )
{
    err_t ret_flag = 0;


    if ( strstr( app_buf, cmd ) != 0 )
    {
        uint8_t element_cnt = 0;
        char data_buf[ DATA_BUFFER_SIZE ] = { 0 };
        uint8_t data_cnt = 0;
        char * __generic_ptr gngga_ptr;

        gngga_ptr = strstr( app_buf, cmd );

        while ( strchr( gngga_ptr, RSP_START ) == GNSSMAX_OK )
        {
            gnssmax_process();
        }

        for ( ; ; )
        {
            if ( ( *gngga_ptr == RSP_START ) )
            {
                ret_flag = GNSSMAX_ERROR_NO_DATA;
                break;
            }

            if ( *gngga_ptr == RSP_SEPARATOR )
            {
                if (element_cnt == element)
                {
                    if ( data_cnt == 0 )
                    {
                        ret_flag = GNSSMAX_ERROR_NO_DATA;
                    }
                    strcpy( element_data, data_buf );
                    break;
                }

                element_cnt++;
            }

            if ( ( element == element_cnt ) && ( *gngga_ptr != RSP_SEPARATOR ) )
            {
                data_buf[ data_cnt ] = *gngga_ptr;
                data_cnt++;

                if ( data_cnt >= DATA_BUFFER_SIZE )
                {
                    ret_flag = GNSSMAX_ERROR_OVERFLOW;
                    break;
                }
            }

            gngga_ptr++;
        }
    }
    else
    {
        ret_flag = GNSSMAX_ERROR;
    }

    return ret_flag;
}

// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END

Additional Support

Resources

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