RTK GPS Bill of Materials

Posted on | by Wade Gordon | Leave a Comment on RTK GPS Bill of Materials

Real Time Kinematic GPS has been a popular topic in Buggy Enhancement Grant proposals. As more teams are expressing interest in building out their own data loggers, I wanted to share some info on two proven systems that will allow you to get centimeter level accurate data from the buggy course.

This quality of data opens a lot of opportunities, and I’m sure we’ve still only seen the tip of the iceberg. Drivers can clearly see the differences in their line between rolls and quantitatively compare the rollouts. Mechanics can see where and how much energy is lost in different parts of the course to fine tune the steering configurations and tire treatments. Pushers can automatically collect split times and even drill down into technique and how much power was delivered during a transition shove.

If this has you feeling inspired, I hope you’ll consider applying for a Spring 2025 Buggy Enhancement Grant. Applications are due by midnight on Thursday, January 23rd.

Arduino Based System

This system was developed by the CMU Robotics Club. Detailed documentation can be found in the project GitHub: https://github.com/CMU-Robotics-Club/rtk-datalogger Note that some soldering will be required. For specifics on where to purchase components and other tips and tricks for getting started with RTK, please refer to the Onboarding Doc.

I would have liked to recommend purchasing a ZED-F9R for the built in accelerometer and ability to integrate wheel rotation and steering input sensors, but that might require changes to the PCB design and updates to the firmware.

PartCost
Seed Studio RP2040$4
SparkFun ZED-F9P$250
GNSS Antenna$73
USB Breakout Board$5
SD Card Reader$4
OLED Board$14
USB-C Battery Pack$20
SD Card$12
PCBSee GitHub
Total$382

Raspberry Pi Based System

This system does not require any soldering. We’re working on building out a set of scripts to automate the setup, post processing, and gathering logs from a fleet of devices over WiFi. Keep an eye on the project GitHub and reach out if you are interested in the beta. For specifics on where to purchase components and other tips and tricks for getting started with RTK, please refer to the Onboarding Doc.

PartCost
Raspberry Pi Zero W 2$18
ZED-F9R Dead Reckoning Pi Hat$290
GNSS Antenna$73
USB-C Battery Pack$20
SD Card$12
Total$413

Special Thanks

I want to thank Anish Singhani and Delaynie McMillan as the original authors of the Buggy Enhancement Grants that made this possible and for the incredible amount of work that RoboBuggy and Radio Club put into establishing and maintaining the RTK base station on campus.

Thank you to all of our Golden Goose Lifetime Members who have donated to the Buggy Endowed Fund and made Buggy Enhancement Grants possible.

Thank you, Robbie, and Lewis, for helping me put together all the pieces for this BoM.

Thank you to everyone who has already submitted their Spring 2025 Buggy Enhancement Grant applications! If you haven’t submitted yours yet, applications are due by midnight on Thursday, January 23rd.

Spring 2025 Buggy Enhancement Grants Open!

Posted on | by Wade Gordon | Leave a Comment on Spring 2025 Buggy Enhancement Grants Open!

Apply Here!

It is time to submit your ideas for Buggy Enhancement Grants for the spring semester! We have over $12,000 available for this round of funding. This money belongs to you as a member of the buggy community, to enhance your enjoyment of the sport! If you have ideas that you think will make buggy better, we want to hear from you, please apply here!

Submissions are due by midnight on Thursday, January 23rd. The committee will complete its initial review on Friday, January 24th, and applicants will have 1 week to respond to the committee’s feedback before the final vote.

Last semester we saw $3723 allocated towards composites testing, expanding the Essential Build Book (while building DG’s first buggy!), improving shop safety, and improving the safety of existing buggies.

For more details on the program, a summary of previously approved grants, and tips from the committee on how to write a stellar grant application, please read All About Buggy Enhancement Grants.

If you would like to support this program, please consider donating to the Buggy Endowed Fund. Your gift will help perpetually fund this grant program and keep the buggy hype rolling for generations to come! A donation of at least $1000 to the endowment is recognized on our placard in the University Center and with a lifetime membership to the Buggy Alumni Association. There is no shortage of excellent project proposals coming from the community, so please consider supporting this program. Join us Now!

Funding for Safety and New Builds

Posted on | by Wade Gordon

The Buggy Enhancement Grant Committee, and the BAA have two new options for teams that would like additional financial support.

If your team has not rolled a new buggy in the past 4 years, the BAA will reimburse up to $500 of build related expenses. This applies to new and ongoing builds. Reach out to Diya Nuxoll <diyanuxoll@cmubuggy.org> if you are interested in taking advantage of this funding!

Existing buggies have been granted up to $200 for improvements to the harness attachment system. This Buggy Enhancment Grant includes funds for 10 buggies, with the option for some discretionary funding for tools and bulk purchases. Reach out to Wade Gordon <wadegordon@cmubuggy.org> if you are interested taking advantage of this funding.

Even if neither of these apply to your team, reach out to the BAA Teams Committee if you would like help finding sustainable sources of funding for your team, need advice to support your build, or need to find an extra set of hands for a critical work session.

Last Call for Buggy Enhancement Grants

Posted on | by Wade Gordon

The application window for Spring 2024 Buggy Enhancement Grants is closing Sunday night! This is your last chance to submit your application before rolls. Get your application in early, and take a well deserved nap Sunday afternoon. If you have any last minute questions or would like someone to proofread your proposal, please reach out to any BAA Officer on Discord!

Submit your grant application here!

For more information about Buggy Enhancement Grants, including tips from the committee on how to strengthen your grant proposal, the actual text of previously approved grant applications, how to access shared resources from previous grants, and how you can support this program, please read All About Buggy Enhancement Grants!

The committee’s initial review is scheduled for Thursday, Sept 19. Applicants should expect to receive their initial feedback and any questions from the committee by Thursday evening. The final voting is scheduled for Thursday, Sept 26, and we expect for the committee’s decisions to be sent out that evening.

Thank you to everyone who already submitted their application!

Submit your grant application here!

Buggy Enhancement Grant Applications Closing This Sunday

Posted on | by Wade Gordon

Apply here! https://cmubuggy.org/2024fallgrant

There are 6 days left to apply for a Buggy Enhancement Grant for Fall 2024! There is $12,000 available in this semester’s funding pool. This money belongs to you as a member of the buggy community to help make the most of your buggy experience! Applications are open until Sunday night. Don’t wait, get your application in today!

If you are looking for inspiration, for your grant proposal, you can view previously approved grant applications here. For your one stop shop to learn everything there is to know about Buggy Enhancement Grants including tips from the committee on how to strengthen your grant proposal, please read All About Buggy Enhancement Grants! If you have any questions or would like early feedback on your proposal, please feel free to reach out to any BAA or Sweepstakes officer on Discord.

Thank you to everyone who already submitted their application!

Apply here! https://cmubuggy.org/2024fallgrant

Fall 2024 Buggy Enhancement Grants Now Open!

Posted on | by Wade Gordon

The start of the fall semester is right around the corner, and with that a whole new year of buggy! I hope you’re ready to hit the ground running, and brimming with ideas to make the sport faster, safer, and more fun!

Applications for Fall 2024 Buggy Enhancement Grants are now open! We have a whopping $12,000 available for this round of funding! This money belongs to you as a member of the buggy community to enhance your enjoyment of the sport. If you have ideas that you think will make buggy more enjoyable for you, your team, and the greater buggy community, we want to hear from you!

The deadline to submit applications is Sunday, September 15th.

Apply Here: https://cmubuggy.org/2024fallgrant 

Keep an eye on your news feed for announcements about brainstorming and grant writing sessions. If you would like to get early feedback from a member of the committee to give your proposal the greatest possible chance of receiving funding, please feel free to reach out on the BAA Discord.

Submissions open today and are due by Sunday, September 15th. The Buggy Endowed Fund Committee will meet on 19th to give you feedback and ask questions about your proposals. Applicants will have 1 week to respond to committee feedback before the final vote on September 26th.

Last year we received 23 grant proposals from 10 different organizations, and funded 11 projects for a total of $5,853.66! Details about these projects can be found here.

Please feel free to take inspiration from these suggestions from the Buggy Endowed Fund Committee:

  • Improve the experience of driving a buggy by improving visibility, safety, or the quality of the roads.
  • Improve the quality of life for the people that help support buggy around the course with a warming hut, covered storage, or better tools (ie. higher flow leaf blowers).
  • Make a new addition to the BAA’s historical data by professionally digitizing old photos or course footage, buying software to upscale low resolution photos and videos, or hiring a professional to capture an event.

Proposals can even be specific to your team. Please include some details on how the community as a whole will benefit from funding your project. For example, you might share documentation of your process, publish a video, or give a talk summarizing your results. You might build something to collect better data during rolls, test out a new material, or design a wheel mold that can be shared among teams.

Apply Here: https://cmubuggy.org/2024fallgrant 

For more information about Buggy Enhancement Grants, including tips from the committee on how to strengthen your grant proposal, and the actual text of previously approved grant applications, please read All About Buggy Enhancement Grants. If you have any comments or suggestions to improve the Buggy Enhancement Grant program, please fill out our feedback survey.

Raceday 2024 Lead Truck Auction

Posted on | by Wade Gordon

Heat selection is finalized for Friday’s preliminary races, and the lead truck auction for Friday’s races is now live! Don’t miss your chance to have the best view on the course! The auction will close at 9PM on Thursday.

https://cmubuggy.org/auction

Please note that this auction is for Friday’s races. Regardless Friday’s weather, we will be hosting a live auction for Saturday’s races at Buggy Bash. We hope to see you there!

Grant Applications Close Tonight!

Posted on | by Wade Gordon

Tonight is your last chance to get your application in for a Spring 2024 Buggy Enhancement Grant! I will be online tonight if anyone has any last minute questions or issues getting their application in. As always, the easiest way to get in touch with any BAA Officer is through our Discord.

Submit your grant application here!

For more information about Buggy Enhancment Grants, including tips from the committee on how to strengthen your grant proposal, the actual text of previously approved grant applications, how to access shared resources funded by this program, and how you can support this program, please read All About Buggy Enhancement Grants!

The first committee review is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 5. Applicants should expect to receive the initial questions and feedback from the committee by Monday evening. Please respond to the committee’s questions by Sunday evening, Feb 11, at the latest. We expect the final review to be scheduled for Monday, Feb 12, with the final funding decisions to be sent out that evening.

Last Call for Buggy Enhancement Grants

Posted on | by Wade Gordon

Apply here! https://cmubuggy.org/2024springgrant

There are 10 days left to apply for a Buggy Enhancement Grant for Spring 2024! Applications are open until the end of January. Don’t wait, get your application in today!

If you are looking for inspiration, for your grant proposal, you can view previously approved grant applications here. For your one stop shop to learn everything there is to know about Buggy Enhancement Grants including tips from the committee on how to strengthen your grant proposal, please read All About Buggy Enhancement Grants!

Apply here! https://cmubuggy.org/2024springgrant

Spring 2024 Buggy Enhancement Grants Open!

Posted on | by Wade Gordon

Apply Here:
https://cmubuggy.org/2024springgrant

Applications for our Spring 2024 Buggy Enhancement Grant campaign are now open! If you consider yourself a member of the Buggy Community, and you have ideas that could enhance your Buggy experience, please apply!

Submissions are due by the end of January, and will be reviewed by the Buggy Endowed Fund Committee in the first week of February. Applicants will have 1 week to respond to committee feedback before the final vote.

Last semester, the number of student submitted applications doubled, and $4,620 was awarded to 9 different projects representing 7 different organizations!

For more details on the program, a summary of previously approved grants, and tips from the committee on how to write a stellar grant application, please read All About Buggy Enhancement Grants.

If you would like to support this program, please consider donating to the Buggy Endowed Fund. Your gift will help perpetually fund this grant program and keep the buggy hype rolling for generations to come! A donation of at least $1000 to the endowment is recognized on our placard in the University Center and with a lifetime membership to the Buggy Alumni Association. There is no shortage of excellent project proposals coming from the community, so please consider supporting this program. Join us Now!