PC/104 Test-Bed for Software GPS Receiver (SGR) and Software Defined Radio (SDR) Applications

NAVSYS has developed a PC/104-based Software GPS Receiver (SGR) test-bed that integrates multiple sensors for advanced navigation applications. The sensors compatible with this system can provide GPS, wireless, inertial, and image information. This test-bed provides a low-cost hardware and software platform that can rapidly adapt to new waveforms and Software Defined Radio (SDR) applications. PC/104-Plus systems are similar to standard desktop PCs but with a smaller embedded form factor of approximately 4” by 4” and with lower power consumption. PC/104-Plus boards typically use special stackable connectors carrying standard ISA and PCI bus signals. In addition, a PC/104-Plus system can use the same development tools and operating systems of full-sized PCs reducing the effort and cost of development. The NAVSYS test-bed uses a commercial off-the-shelf PC/104-Plus processor card based on a Pentiumclass, low-power processor. The processor card performs high-level processing and handles user interface and storage. In addition, it can interface to multiple sensors via the PCI bus or onboard serial ports.