GPS/GSM - Enabled
Tracking Device
Jessica Bennett
Brandon DeWalt
Krystle Gaco
Bobby Roberson
Advisor: Dr. Adam Fontecchio
Overview of Solution
Our project analyzes luggage loss in the status
quo and provides a solution to remedy this
problem. Our solution is a device that operates
on the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the
Global System for Mobile Cmmunication
(GSM) to provide customers with the location
of their luggage.
Problem Background



7 million bags misplaced in 2006 (McCartney)
$400 million cost to airlines annually (McCartney)
Increase in number of misplaced bags by all airlines in 2006
Percentage Increase of Lost Luggage, 2005
Year-over-year increase (%)
90
81
80
70
60
50
37
40
27
25
30
15
20
10
15
9
9
America
West
Airlines
United
Airlines
0
US Airways
Delta Air
Lines
American
Airlines
Northwest
Airlines
Southwest
Airlines
Continental
Airlines
Percentage increase of lost luggage in 2005 over 2004 (Adams 2006).
Problem Background

Barcode tags are source of problem
 Damage to barcode tag reduces accuracy to 80% or less
 Large numbers of bags must be manually scanned
<http://www.worldmagblog.com/blog/lostluggage.jpg>.
Possible Solutions

RFID system for airports

More durable barcode tags

GPS/GSM enabled device

Current vehicle/asset tracking devices cost $200$500
Our Solution

Utilizes
GPS and GSM
 Lithium-Polymer Battery
 No display
 Antenna
 USB port for updates
 Built-in charger

Images created by Bobby
Roberson are digital modifications
of musicPower™ charging device
Targeted Demographic
Market product to airline passengers with sports equipment

Purpose of Air Travel
60
50.5
Percentage of Total
50
40.6
40
30
20
8
10
0.9
0
Business
Pleasure/Leisure
Personal
Other
Source: 2001 National Household Travel Survey, Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Our Solution

Market product to airline passengers with sports
equipment

Passengers likely to buy device to keep track of
their high-value item(s)
GSM (Global System for Mobile
Communications)


Established in 1980s
Composed of three systems




Switching (calls and subscription services)
Base (radio interfacing and mobile station)
Operation and support system (monitors and controls system)
Message center

Short message service for text or data messages sent over the
network
Information above courtesy of John Scourias, University of Waterloo
https://styx.uwaterloo.ca/~jscouria/GSM/gsmreport.html
Global GSM Coverage
GPS (Global Positioning
System)

Under control of United States Department of Defense

24 satellites available, plus 3 backups

GPS chip receives signal from 3
satellites (2-D)

Frequency – 1575.42 MHz (Dana)
http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/gps/gps_f.html
How GPS Works

Location is determined from very precise atomic clocks in the satellites

Receiver calculates location based upon time delay and location of
satellite
http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/gps/gps_f.html
Operation of Device


Turns on once per hour
Attempts to connect to GSM Network
Must be within 25 miles of a tower
 Sends location via text message to database



Otherwise, switches to GPS then transmits
location
Device returns to sleep mode
Our Solution

Constraints
Power (VALUE)
 Size
 Interference with plane systems
 Cost of components
 Permission to use GSM towers

Image created by Bobby
Roberson is digital
modification of musicPower™
charging device
Our Solution

Criteria
Cost less than $50 per device
 Operate for 7+ days on battery power
 Durable, reusable, rechargeable
 No larger than 3”x2”x1”
 Less than 0.5 lb
 Must not interfere with communication systems

Cost Breakdown









u-Nav uN9518 GSM/GPS chipset
Power Stream Lithium-Polymer battery
Antenna
Protective Casing (plastic)
Hirose UX60A-MB-5ST USB receptacle
Production Costs
Projected Profit
Marketing Costs
10,000 lifetime text messages
Total Cost $46.06
$8.50
$1.37
$0.75
$1.50
$0.44
$7.50
$10.00
$4.00
$12.00
Environmental Impacts




Manufacture of components contributes to
environmental damage
Mostly lead-free, halogen-free and RoHS
compliant parts
Reusable, rechargeable
(500,000 units)(0.5lb)(5 year lifetime)
= 50,000 lb added to waste stream each year
Future Work

Market product to all demographics
Business and vacationers in first year
 International market in five years


Develop company to provide rentals via mail for
shipping
Acknowledgments

Dr. Adam Fontecchio, Drexel University

Tom Juliano, SiRF

Rick Lockwood, u-Nav Microelectronics
References

28 Dec. 2004. 15 Feb. 2007 <http://www.worldmagblog.com/blog/lostluggage.jpg>.

Adams, Marilyn. (2006, February 16). Airlines Lost 10,000 Bags a Day in ’05.
Retrieved February 15,
2007, from the USA Today website:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/biztravel/2006-02-16-lostbags-usat_x.htm

Dana, Peter H. "The Global Positioning System." The Geographers Craft. 1 May 2000.
University of Colorado. 28 Apr. 2007
<http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/gps/gps_f.html>.

"Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)." Web ProForums. International
Engineering Consortium. 1 May 2007 <http://www.iec.org/online/tutorials/gsm/topic05.html/>.

McCartney, Scott. (2007, February 27). The Middle Seat: A New Way to Prevent Lost
Luggage. Retrieved February 27, 2007, from the Wall Street Journal, February

Scourias, John. (1994). “Overview of the Global System for Mobile Communications.”
University of Waterloo. Retrieved 8 May 2007.
<https://styx.uwaterloo.ca/~jscouria/GSM/gsmreport.html>
27, 2007.