At PBX Systems LLC, product design and programming have always been in our DNA. But with our core Energy Industry market still in decline, the typical projects that we’ve worked on in the past have been placed into sustaining mode. These include custom GPS positioning software and hardware, integrated IMU’s, energy source Q.C and custom declination monitoring.

So what is a programmer to do? One project that we’re proud to see coming to fruition is gScoutS.

gScoutS is a guidance and logging app for the iPad and iPhone. It uses the incredible Trimble PG200/R1 GPS receiver to help improve the positioning capabilities of the iPad (using Bluetooth) and then allows the operator to load a number of points or many lines consisting of defined points and then guides the operator to these points.

At a point the operator can record the co-ordinates, take a picture, make notes about the point or read a bar-code of an object at the point. The data is recorded in a csv format for downloading to a desktop computer. Provision is also being added to optionally upload the points to the Cloud for real time analysis.

If the user is part of a group with other gScoutS users then the program can be set to display other team users on each others display.

Interfacing to a SerialI/O serial Bluetooth dongle is also possible so allow the operator to talk to older generation GPS receivers or GPS aided IMU’s. A user-defined message can be assigned to a ‘Hot key’ in the program to allow for Zupt fixes etc. Provision has also been made to use the lower cost Dual Electronics 150A GPS receiver.

Uses for the program are many. From seismic surveying to mapping graveyards to railway and airport asset tracking. gScoutS allows the user to accomplish many tasks that have typically been accomplished using expensive, licensed GIS modules.

gScoutS is currently in beta testing. Check back often for the release date.

Program instructions and a PG200 data sheet can be found on our gScoutS page. gScoutS

Contact PBX Systems LLC for more information and pricing of the Trimble PG200.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or wish to be considered for our beta test program then please contact us at sales@pbxsys.com.