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Zeus
08-04-2005, 12:12 PM
The infamous Natrium42 has managed to bring GPS to the DS via connecting a Lassen iQ GPS module to his previously developed serial interface. Maps are downloaded from Google Maps servers with a small script.


I have connected a <a href="http://www.trimble.com/lasseniq.html" target="_blank">Lassen iQ GPS module</a> to my serial interface.

Maps are downloaded from <a href="http://maps.google.com/" target="_blank">Google Maps</a> servers with a small script. Google maps consist of 128x128 pixel tiles. You have to specify your address, so that map tiles around your area are downloaded. There is also a parameter for number of tiles you want. Zoom levels are possible but require to have a few tile-sets, one for each zoom level.

EDIT: Note that maps are downloaded to the CF card using the computer. DS WiFi is not reverse engineered yet.

GBAMP (GBA Movie Player) is used to store the program and data on a CompactFlash card (special thanks to chishm and DarkFader). Number of tiles is only limited by memory size of CF card.

<center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/gps-whole.jpg" target="_blank"><img height="202" width="150" src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/gps-whole.jpg" border="0"></center></a>

More Screens: <a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/gps-screens.jpg">GPS-Screens</a>

Here is the CF folder for a map around my area consisting of 64 google tiles. I used this for testing. As you see, tiles are just ordinary GIF images.

<center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/gps-files.jpg" target="_blank"><img height="192" width="350" src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/gps-files.jpg" border="0"></center></a>

If you are wondering, there is a formula to go from latitude and longitude (which are provided by GPS) to Google tile number.

Code will be published later after a few things are cleaned up a bit.


News Source: <a href="http://www.natrium42.com/blog/?p=31" target="_blank">Natrium 42 Blog</a>

Official HomePage: <a href="http://www.natrium42.com" target="_blank">natrium42.com</a>

Zeus
08-04-2005, 12:17 PM
Respect to Natrium, he keeps on bringing some great developments to the DS :).

Cosmo
08-04-2005, 08:14 PM
It's guys like this that keep the DS scene alive.

Just when you think it's going to dry out all together what with the PSP scene bursting at the seams, he comes along and does something else.

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