Development of a Test Track for the Evaluation of GPS Receiver Dynamic Performance

The objective of this research project was to design and construct an apparatus to assess the dynamic performance of GPS receivers for application in the field of precision agriculture. An I-beam track was constructed to support this fixture-based test system. A prototype cart was fabricated for initial testing. Positioning data were collected using both an RTK GPS system and a low-cost GPS receiver. Analysis of the RTK data showed that the track system held the receiver to within a few centimeters along the track. Comparison of the RTK and low-cost GPS receiver data demonstrate how the test track system will be used in its final form. The low-cost receiver positioning data strayed from the RTK data by as much as 1.75 meters.