The shipping industry was the first to implement a vehicle tracking systems because companies needed to monitor their trucks moving at any given time. In recent years, this instrument managed to turn vehicle-related entrepreneurship into efficient and fully controllable service. Due to taxi service development, a car tracking system became an irremovable part of standard vehicle equipment. Furthermore, a price of such system can seem quite astonishing for business owners. So, how to build a GPS tracking system that will coincide with your budget? That’s the question we are going to talk about.
How a GPS Vehicle Tracking System Works
A GPS uses the Global Navigation Satellite System network (GNSS) to get data about the time, vehicle speed, and its location. The GNSS includes various satellites which transmit information to GPS gizmos by using microwave signals.
There are two ways of the GPS tracking system functioning:
- Active tracking;
- Passive tracking.
Active tracking records vehicle positions and sends this data to a centralized database using a modem. It is also known as 2-Way GPS or a real-time positioning. Active tracking is especially useful for commercial purposes because it allows checking object location in the exact time.
Passive tracking records vehicle position in particular time points. Trilateration method allows calculating location of the auto in time between recorded points. This way of tracking requires additional storage for recorded data, like a memory card or device internal memory.
How Much Does It Cost to Create a GPS Vehicle Tracking System
Costs of building a tracking device and setting all necessary hardware will not exceed $1200.
Necessary components for developing a vehicle tracking system and their cost:
- Microcontroller – $30;
- GSM/GPRS module – $100;
- GSM module – $60;
- GPS tracking software development – $1000.
GPS-Based VTS
A GPS-based vehicle tracking system (VTS) uses a GSM modem and a GPS module for determination of vehicle location. This system also allows performing some car controlling actions such as starting an engine and locking/unlocking car doors.
Necessary hardware for building a GPS VTS
The following elements will help you build your GPS tracking device. Basic components for VTS hardware are:
- A microcontroller unit (MCU);
- A GSM module;
- A GPS module;
- A relay circuit;
- An LCD.
Microcontroller
Microcontroller unit contains a CPU in addition to ROM, RAM, and I/O ports. Criteria to choose the right MCU:
- It has to be cost-effective and efficient;
- Availability of assemblers, compilers and debuggers on the market.
- MCU’s characteristics (ROM, RAM, power consumption, and cost)
- Availability of chosen MCU.
GSM modem
A GSM module is compatible with an ordinary SIM card and it operates like a cell phone using mobile data transfer. It’s compatible with 400 MHz, 900 MHz or 1800 MHz frequency.
GSM modems support such services as:
- Data services;
- Supplementary services;
- Telecommunication services.
GPS module
Satellites transmit information to the GPS receiver about the time and the location. GPS modules are more efficient outdoors because they require a clear sky view without obstacles.
Creating a software for a GPS VTS
This kind of the VTS means sending an SMS with simple commands to the modem using a mobile phone or a computer. Every command in digits, i.e. 111 or 444, corresponds to a particular required action such as getting the location or starting an engine. The GSM module receives a command, processes it and sends it to the MCU to get a command accomplished.
Choosing the right programming language
Various languages are convenient for programming the MCU. Some of them are Assembly and C. Software in Assembly has fast performing time and C software is easy enough to build a vehicle tracking system. Then it is necessary to design a web page with a map or create a car tracking app for monitoring vehicle location by entering longitude and latitude received by the MCU from a GPS receiver and displayed on a LCD.
Web-Based VTS
The web-based VTS consists of tracking devices placed on a car, a web application, and a central server system. Such system can be useful for shipping companies and organizations that provide passenger transportation services because it allows monitoring unlimited number of cars and receiving complex data. Necessary hardware:
- A microcontroller unit (MCU);
- A GSM module;
- A GPS module;
VTS software development
The components, which support the system functionality, are:
- GSM-GPS module;
- Web application
- Database;
- Desktop application.
Web design
On this stage web application goals are:
- Management of agent accounts;
- Browsing account information and data tracking by clients;
- Identifying tracking data from every device;
- Storage of tracking information;
- Displaying location;
- Generation of agent movement reports.
Database design
The database architecture is following:
- Presentation layer (displays data);
- Data access and business logic layer (controls functionality of the application);
- Data layer (stores data).
Desktop application
The software application transmits commands to the GSM/GPS device. The device sends data and identification information to the application server through GPRS. Then the application defines a method and transmitting data protocol.
Pros and cons of such system
Benefits of the VTS
- Low price and availability. VTS components are quite cheap and available on the market. Such VTS can help to save a serious amount of money.
- Easy-to-build principle. The thing is that a few of technical skills are enough to build such system. Furthermore, it can be as reliable as existing solutions on the market.
Disadvantages of the VTS
- The necessity of technical knowledge. Of course, it is impossible to build the VTS without any understanding of technical implementation process and software development. In some cases, it can be better to hire specialists to avoid errors.
- Responsibility. Lack of computer system knowledge can cause a fail in VTS development. Even a tiny mistake can lead to the impossibility of system functionality. You are a responsible person for any system errors.
As you see, there are different ways of VTS development using a mobile app, a simple mobile phone or/and a computer. Both mentioned systems can track a location of stationary or moving vehicle in real-time. Main advantages of presented systems are their low cost and accessibility of necessary components and that makes them popular among the regular users.
AUTHOR BIO
Lolita Rogers is a technical writer with five years of experience in IT. Her prime area of expertise is Mobile App Development.