Vehicle Tracking System

Transcription

1 Vehicle Tracking System VASUDHA SoftAim Innovations Pvt. Ltd., Rahul Enclave, Atul Nagar, Waraje, Pune -58, M.S. India. Ph:

2 Introduction A vehicle tracking system is an electronic device installed in a vehicle to enable the owner or a third party to track the vehicle's location. Most modern vehicle tracking systems use Global Positioning System (GPS) modules for accurate location of the vehicle. Many systems also combine a communications component such as cellular or satellite transmitters to communicate the vehicle s location to a remote user. Vehicle information can be viewed on electronic maps via the Internet or specialized software. The GPS satellite system is maintained by the Defense. It is available at no cost to civilians. This makes this technology very inexpensive. Vehicle tracking systems are commonly used by fleet operators for fleet management functions such as routing, dispatch, on-board information and security. Other applications include monitoring driving behavior, such as an employer of an employee, or a parent with a teen driver. Vehicle tracking systems are also popular in consumer vehicles as a theft prevention and retrieval device. Police can simply follow the signal emitted by the tracking system and locate the stolen vehicle. When used as a security system, a Vehicle Tracking System may serve as either an addition to or replacement for a traditional Car alarm. The existence of vehicle tracking device then can be used to reduce the insurance cost, because the loss-risk of the vehicle drops significantly. Vehicle tracking systems are an integrated part of the layered approach to vehicle protection, recommended by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) to prevent motor vehicle theft. This approach recommends four layers of security based on the risk factors pertaining to a specific vehicle. Vehicle Tracking Systems are one such layer, and are described by the NICB as very effective in helping police recover stolen vehicles.

3 Some vehicle tracking systems integrate several security systems, for example by sending an automatic alert to a phone or if an alarm is triggered or the vehicle is moved without authorization. Active versus passive tracking Several types of Vehicle Tracking devices exist. Typically they are classified as "Passive" and "Active". "Passive" devices store GPS location, speed, heading and sometimes a trigger event such as key on/off, door open/closed. Once the vehicle returns to a predetermined point, the device is removed and the data downloaded to a computer for evaluation. Passive systems include auto download type that transfer data via wireless download. "Active" devices also collect the same information but usually transmit the data in realtime via cellular or satellite networks to a computer or data center for evaluation. Many modern vehicle tracking devices combine both active and passive tracking abilities: when cellular network is available and a tracking device is connected it transmits data to a server; when network is not available the device stores data in internal memory and will transmit stored data to the server later when the network becomes available again. There is a popular misperception that GPS is a "tracking" technology and therefore that it can be easily misused by public agencies and private companies to monitor people's whereabouts Vehicle Tracking Systems as an Anti-Theft Device Have you ever taken a step back and really examined our technology these days? It is truly phenomenal. From high-speed Internet access, to GPS navigation systems, to cell phones the size of a pack of cigarettes, we've certainly got it all. And that's not even the truth, because it will only get more and more advanced as years go by. Some of the more contemporary electronics that I like to take advantage of now days are mini microphones, surveillance equipment and vehicle tracking systems. Okay, stop right there. I know what you're thinking, but I'm not an international spy. Although the U.S. government did try and recruit me a few years back for some kind of hush-hush special ops missions involving

4 the president's safety, I regretfully had to decline. Anyway, if you're not taking full advantage of today's wonderful and exciting technology, then I must tell you that you're sadly missing out. It's time to get into the swing of the future, folks. How cool would it be to slap one of those new-age vehicle tracking systems on your car so that no one could ever steal it? Ah ha, that got your attention. You could literally nab that car thief red-handed, stare him in the eye, and send him off to prison. Okay, that being said; how awesome would it be to hide one of those vehicle tracking systems under your child's car? Yeah, that's what I'm talking about! You went to the movies, huh? Then how do you explain your car being pinpointed at some seedy night club. Gotcha! This of course may cause a little animosity between you and the kids, but does it really matter in the big scheme of things? Your child's safety is the big issue here. I would take an upset teenager over an abducted one any day. You see, with the modern vehicle tracking systems it basically works like this; you place the device on the vehicle, and then you can monitor where ever it goes on your personal computer. Isn't that sweet? You have to admit if you're a parent that it would be fun to watch where your child is actually going on Friday nights. Basic Function At the most basic level, a GPS vehicle tracking system provides business managers and dispatchers with information on the locations of their vehicles. Software-Enhanced Function By combining GPS information with advanced software applications (such as Trimble solutions), managers and dispatchers can: See current locations and routes of mobile resources on an online map

5 Find out when a vehicle travels across a defined perimeter View reports on activities such as number of stops, time at each stop, speed, idling time, routes traveled, miles traveled and trailer door open or close Additional Features Trimble GPS vehicle tracking systems provide additional features such as: Remote reporting of vehicle diagnostics Remote completion of work orders and other forms Two-way messaging Secure in-vehicle Wi-Fi access Major markets Vehicle tracking can be used in the following scenarios: Stolen Vehicle Recovery: Both consumer and commercial vehicles can be outfitted with RF or GPS units to allow police to do tracking and recovery. In the case of LoJack, the police can activate the tracking unit in the vehicle directly and follow tracking signals. Fleet Management: When managing a fleet of vehicles, knowing the real-time location of all drivers allows management to meet customer needs more efficiently. Whether it is delivery, service or other multi-vehicle enterprises, drivers now only need a mobile phone with telephony or Internet connection to be inexpensively tracked by and dispatched efficiently.

6 Asset Tracking: Companies needing to track valuable assets for insurance or other monitoring purposes can now plot the real-time asset location on a map and closely monitor movement and operating status. Field Service Management: Companies with a field service workforce for services such as repair or maintenance, must be able to plan field workers time, schedule subsequent customer visits and be able to operate these departments efficiently. Vehicle tracking allows companies to quickly locate a field engineer and dispatch the closest one to meet a new customer request or provide site arrival information. Field Sales: Mobile sales professionals can access real-time locations. For example, in unfamiliar areas, they can locate themselves as well as customers and prospects, get driving directions and add nearby last-minute appointments to itineraries. Benefits include increased productivity, reduced driving time and increased time spent with customers and prospects. Trailer Tracking: Haulage and Logistics companies often operate lorries (trucks) with detachable load carrying units. The part of the vehicle that drives the load is known as the cab and the load carrying unit is known as the trailer. There are different types of trailer used for different applications, e.g., flat bed, refrigerated, curtain sider, box container. Law enforcement or surveillance: A tracker may be hidden on a vehicle to follow the vehicle's movements without the driver's knowledge.