Easy drive test evaluation with mikroE Click Logger and u-center

Introduction

GNSS products are used in a wide area of applications. They provide positioning data, helping to locate cars, scooters, trucks, but also pets, livestock or even assets like pallets or containers. A GNSS device provides a position for navigation of cars, drones, delivery robots or smart agriculture solutions.

Before finishing up the design, it is important for the engineer to evaluate the GNSS product performance in the target environment. The antenna performance and its placement are crucial. Conducting a drive test in the target environment is very helpful to understand, if the setup works as expected.

Challenges in drive test setup

Performing a drive test requires considerable effort. It needs a setup of the target device, which might be a prototype design. So in case we assume a car application, this prototype needs to be temporarily mounted inside the car. Furthermore the drive test needs to get recorded, requiring extra equipment that typically operates on 115V/230V AC power.

Simplifying drive tests with mikroE Click Logger

For GNSS product evaluation, the mikroE Click Logger board offers a smart and simple way to perform a drive test. It features a battery connector that powers the board throughout the entire test. The compact board includes a pin header where different Click boards can be inserted. This allows users to choose from a wide range of GNSS products. Once the boards are connected and the antenna is attached, a single press of the LOG button starts the recording.

The data from the GNSS chip on the click board is saved onto the embedded SD card. After the drive test is completed and back in the office, the recorded logfile on the SD card can be imported to the PC running u-blox u-center 2 software. This highly intuitive GNSS evaluation software is compatible with leading u-blox technologies. Once imported, the logfile can be analyzed in different views. The software helps users assess the success of the drive test and assists in debugging issues if they arise. If a problem persists, the recorded log file can be valuable when seeking support from u-blox.

This video shows you how to set up your own drive test evaluation using the mikroE Click Logger together with the u-blox u-center 2 software. Follow the steps to get started quickly and make the most of your testing process.

Watch the video to see how it works!