A GPS for the volcano computer

The GPS for the volcano computer came yesterday. We have been making good progress on the system as a whole. We finally got Debian Linux running on the system with the right kernel patches so that we could talk to it via SSH. It is very cool. The GPS cost under $70 and will be perfect for what we want to do. The next step is to add a little circuitry to the end of the GPS cable so we can take the PPS (Pulse Per Second) signal from the GPS into the Linux computer. After that we need to add a patch to our already modified Linux kernel and write some code to get the two devices to talk.

Evan is currently in the process of getting the camera to talk to the computer so we can take pictures. We are getting the technical challenges out of the way. Soon it will be time to start in on the programming. I need to specify a format for the configuration files and start thinking about how we are going to package the whole thing in some kind of a enclosure. All we probably need to do is find some way to attach a metal bracket directly to the computer enclosure onto which we can mount a power connector and the GPS and we will be done. We have been thinking it would be cool to add a UPS weather module or two (thermometer, barometer, anemometer) so you could time, place, and environmental condition stamp the images.

On another note, yesterday was my second day of weightlifting. I am trying to avoid the macho thing of lifting too heavy while getting started. Yesterday I did squats, lunges, and calf raises. I kept it pretty light and am kind of amazed that I am a little wobbly but not really sore at all. We see how I feel in a couple of days.