The Effects of a Metal Obstruction on a GPS Tracker
School Name
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Engineering
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of a metal obstruction (aluminum foil) on a GPS tracker and how these effects may change the reliability of the tracker. The hypothesis states that if an 8x8 piece of aluminum foil is wrapped around a GPS tracker then the tracker will become extremely inaccurate. Two different kinds of GPS trackers were moved down a course as a control; the Whistle 3 and the DreamClub. Every minute the location of the trackers was recorded. This was repeated twice to get the most accurate results. The trackers were then wrapped in 8”x8” sheets of aluminum foil and the whole process was repeated two more times. The distance between the points the trackers recorded and where the trackers actually were at the time was measured and placed on a graph. The trackers during the aluminum foil trials were completely inaccurate. The information that the trackers recorded said that they had never left the starting point. In conclusion, it is very possible for a metal obstruction to render the tracker completely useless, if not making it highly inaccurate. The same may be the case for areas with any sort of other obstruction, such as a large building, canyon, or cavern.
Recommended Citation
Stanley, Brianna, "The Effects of a Metal Obstruction on a GPS Tracker" (2018). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 117.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2018/all/117
Location
Lassiter 119
Start Date
4-14-2018 11:00 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
The Effects of a Metal Obstruction on a GPS Tracker
Lassiter 119
The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of a metal obstruction (aluminum foil) on a GPS tracker and how these effects may change the reliability of the tracker. The hypothesis states that if an 8x8 piece of aluminum foil is wrapped around a GPS tracker then the tracker will become extremely inaccurate. Two different kinds of GPS trackers were moved down a course as a control; the Whistle 3 and the DreamClub. Every minute the location of the trackers was recorded. This was repeated twice to get the most accurate results. The trackers were then wrapped in 8”x8” sheets of aluminum foil and the whole process was repeated two more times. The distance between the points the trackers recorded and where the trackers actually were at the time was measured and placed on a graph. The trackers during the aluminum foil trials were completely inaccurate. The information that the trackers recorded said that they had never left the starting point. In conclusion, it is very possible for a metal obstruction to render the tracker completely useless, if not making it highly inaccurate. The same may be the case for areas with any sort of other obstruction, such as a large building, canyon, or cavern.
