Validation of Telemetry Data Acquisition in Marine Environment

Several GoPro camera models contain Global Positioning System (GPS), accelerometer, and gyroscope instrumentation and are capable of measuring and recording position, velocity, acceleration, and inertial data. This study evaluates the accuracy of GoPro telemetry data, with a specific focus on inertial measurements, through a series of controlled tests in a marine environment. A test vessel was instrumented with a Racelogic VBOX data acquisition unit as well as various generations of GoPro camera units equipped with telematics capability, and operated through a series of maneuvers on an inland lake. The raw data collected with the GoPro cameras were compared to data collected with the calibrated VBOX data acquisition unit. The results demonstrate that position, velocity, acceleration, and inertial data recorded with GoPro cameras is consistent with VBOX data and is appropriate for recording characteristic marine dynamic handling maneuvers.