Cost of 1,000,000 gps modules + other bits?

[[email protected]]

Hi


I'm not about to buy these, so theres no point asking suppliers, but I
need to get a rough idea of likely costs of some kit. It would consist
of a GPS receiver to work out where it is, some kind of simple procesor
to work out which direction it wants to go in to reach its target
destination, using a simplified map to avoid a limited number of
impassable obstacles. It will need a small solar panel and battery for
power, and include a few beefy solenoids that it switches on and off at
upto 1Hz.

It also needs a connector (or rf receiver) so external target
coordinates can be given to it with an external device.

Equipment life need not be very long, as the kit will be destroyed
after typically around a year. So if 99% make it to 1 year that would
be acceptable. Module repair or maintenance will probably not be an
option.

This lot would be made in volumes of 1,000,000 ish...

Where do I even start costing this lot up? No, I dont have a cirtcuit
design, nor am I about to build them. At this point just need to get a
rough handle on cost to know if an idae's worth continuing with.


thanks, NT

 

[martin griffith]

On 2 Jul 2005 12:51:54 -0700, in sci.electronics.design

Hi


I'm not about to buy these, so theres no point asking suppliers, but I
need to get a rough idea of likely costs of some kit. It would consist
of a GPS receiver to work out where it is, some kind of simple procesor
to work out which direction it wants to go in to reach its target
destination, using a simplified map to avoid a limited number of
impassable obstacles. It will need a small solar panel and battery for
power, and include a few beefy solenoids that it switches on and off at
upto 1Hz.

It also needs a connector (or rf receiver) so external target
coordinates can be given to it with an external device.

Equipment life need not be very long, as the kit will be destroyed
after typically around a year. So if 99% make it to 1 year that would
be acceptable. Module repair or maintenance will probably not be an
option.

This lot would be made in volumes of 1,000,000 ish...

Where do I even start costing this lot up? No, I dont have a cirtcuit
design, nor am I about to build them. At this point just need to get a
rough handle on cost to know if an idae's worth continuing with.


thanks, NT

No wonder they said that the new ID cards for the UK would cost £9
billion


martin

 

[dalai lamah]

Un bel giorno [email protected] digitò:

I'm not about to buy these, so theres no point asking suppliers, but I
need to get a rough idea of likely costs of some kit.

For these numbers, I think it would be *much* better to develop your own
GPS receiver by starting with a standard chipset (see for example
http://www.sirf.com or http://www.atmel.com/products/gps/). Your
development costs would be irrelevant (they are divided for 1M units), and
you wouldn't need a second processor (you can put your custom software into
the same processor that handles GPS, commonly an ARM-derived CPU).

Where do I even start costing this lot up? No, I dont have a cirtcuit
design, nor am I about to build them. At this point just need to get a
rough handle on cost to know if an idae's worth continuing with.

I really have no idea, but by guessing I would say something between 1 and
10$.

 

[Ian Stirling]

Hi


I'm not about to buy these, so theres no point asking suppliers, but I
need to get a rough idea of likely costs of some kit. It would consist
of a GPS receiver to work out where it is, some kind of simple procesor
to work out which direction it wants to go in to reach its target
destination, using a simplified map to avoid a limited number of
impassable obstacles. It will need a small solar panel and battery for
power, and include a few beefy solenoids that it switches on and off at
upto 1Hz.

Right...
GPS in bulk will cost you on the order of $20 (us).
Define map.

Equipment life need not be very long, as the kit will be destroyed
after typically around a year. So if 99% make it to 1 year that would
be acceptable. Module repair or maintenance will probably not be an
option.

This lot would be made in volumes of 1,000,000 ish...

Where do I even start costing this lot up? No, I dont have a cirtcuit
design, nor am I about to build them. At this point just need to get a
rough handle on cost to know if an idae's worth continuing with.

You cost the bits.
GPS $20, then work out how much power the solenoids use, and if they are
really the overall cheapest way of doing it (if the aim is to move the
device, then they are almost certainly the wrong thing), now take that
power number, and go to various solar websites to work out how the solar
cells will perform in your target location and orientation.
Now, that gives you the size of the solar array and battery, which
lets you cost them, ...

 

[legg]

Hi


I'm not about to buy these, so theres no point asking suppliers, but I
need to get a rough idea of likely costs of some kit. It would consist
of a GPS receiver to work out where it is, some kind of simple procesor
to work out which direction it wants to go in to reach its target
destination, using a simplified map to avoid a limited number of
impassable obstacles. It will need a small solar panel and battery for
power, and include a few beefy solenoids that it switches on and off at
upto 1Hz.

It also needs a connector (or rf receiver) so external target
coordinates can be given to it with an external device.

Equipment life need not be very long, as the kit will be destroyed
after typically around a year. So if 99% make it to 1 year that would
be acceptable. Module repair or maintenance will probably not be an
option.

This lot would be made in volumes of 1,000,000 ish...

Where do I even start costing this lot up? No, I dont have a cirtcuit
design, nor am I about to build them. At this point just need to get a
rough handle on cost to know if an idae's worth continuing with.

What's that saying.? 'If you have to ask "how much?", then you can't
afford it.

Don't forget the plastique.

RL

 

[[email protected]]

[email protected] wrote:

Right...
GPS in bulk will cost you on the order of $20 (us).
Define map.

world map, but with minimal detail. Merely needs to distinguish betwen
go and no go zones, with low resolution. 200 yards per pixel would be
absolutely fine, with 1 bit information depth.

Since the go and no go areas are mostly very large, (mainly countries
and continents) this info could be heavily compressed.

It might alternately be possible to rely on GPS derived info.

You cost the bits.

yes... was just hoping for the chance to save some time here, since I
probably only need a very approx figure. Only if it makes sense at tis
stage is it worth going as far as a real design and costing.

GPS $20,

sounds good

then work out how much power the solenoids use, and if they are
really the overall cheapest way of doing it (if the aim is to move the
device, then they are almost certainly the wrong thing),

theyre just for control

now take that
power number, and go to various solar websites to work out how the solar
cells will perform in your target location and orientation.

target location: all over the world. Orientation: every which way. I
think I now have another method of powering that would be better and
cheaper.

Now, that gives you the size of the solar array and battery, which
lets you cost them, ...

Yep. I want to do it the lazy way first, to see if its worth finding
out the figures for real.

A floppy drive has a similar amount of and type of stuff in it,
excluding the GPS, and costs 10 retail, so about 5 at the factory
gates. It includes the power source (the stepping motor), or something
very similar to it, the tronics, connectors, skeleton housing, testing
etc.
Add gps @20, Looks good.

All that remains is to get a ballpark on the price of the big egg.


Thank you, NT

 

[Frithiof Andreas Jensen]

Where do I even start costing this lot up?

Sounds like it's Cost+10% so who cares? Any large figure will do!

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

Sounds like it's Cost+10% so who cares? Any large figure will do!

One method of estimating that can work if you have limited knowledge
in the domain is to to look at (technically) similar items (those with
reasonable competition) and what they sell for through similar
distribution channels. Your item should be salable at a price at least
as high as they sell for in order for it to be practical. Preferably a
fair bit more.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany