NIBM303COM - Final Year Project
Detailed Project Proposal
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303COM Declaration of originality
I declare that this project is all my own work and has not been copied in part or in whole from any
other source except where duly acknowledged. As such, all use of previously published work (from
books, journals, magazines, internet etc.) has been acknowledged by citation within the main report
to an item in the References or Bibliography lists. I also agree that an electronic copy of this project
may be stored and used for the purposes of plagiarism prevention and detection.
Statement of copyright
I acknowledge that the copyright of this project report, and any product developed as part of the
project, belong to Coventry University. Support, including funding, is available to commercialize
products and services developed by staff and students.
Any revenue that is generated is split with the inventor/s of the product or service. For further
information, please see www.coventry.ac.uk/ipr or contact ipr@coventry.ac.uk.
Statement of ethical engagement
I declare that a proposal for this project has been submitted to the Coventry University ethics
monitoring website (https://ethics.coventry.ac.uk/) and that the application number is listed below
(Note: Projects without an ethical application number will be rejected for marking)
Signed:
First Name:
Last Name:
Student ID number
Ethics Application Number
1st Supervisor Name
2nd Supervisor Name
Date:
K.A.D Malith
Dulan
8512943 / COBSCComp171p - 024
Mr. Sujeewa Sampath
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Content
1. Detailed research question……………………………………………………………………4
2. Keywords………………………………………………………………………………………………4
3. Project title……………………………………………………………………………………………4
4. Client, Audience and Motivation……………………………………………………………4
5. Primary research……………………………………………………………………………………5
6. Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………7
7. Mini Literature Review…………………………………………………………………………..8
8. Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………………….10
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1. Detailed Research Question
How can a vehicle security system can reduce reasonable increasing of vehicle parts robberies?
2. Keywords
Side mirror security; GPRS with GSM module; Lower the side mirrors fraud in Sri Lanka;
Affordable side mirror protection; Send messages via GSM module; GPS tracking; Google cloud
functions;
3. Project Title
A solution to lower the vehicle parts robberies.
4. Client, Audience & Motivation
Client of this project is basically vehicle spare parts shops who are selling vehicle spare parts to
the vehicle owners.
People who are busy with their works and don’t have time to look after their vehicles and also
people who has to leave their vehicles for the sudden works in unknown locations will be the
audience.
Side mirror robberies is increasing in Sri Lanka like never before. All of the nowadays vehicles
have their own vehicle security systems. It could be factory fitted or after market. But the thing
is, most of the vehicles that are imported to Sri Lanka has a security system that works when
thieves try to enter and start the vehicle without the smart key. It doesn’t protect the side
mirrors and vehicle parts even when hardly pulled out of its structure and Security system
doesn’t get triggered.
After watching the videos in the links you can understand the situation that should immediately
addressed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIn_JbI7Lhc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4b7F1SQaFM
As you can see they just get to the vehicle’s roof and jump on the side mirror and rip of the side
mirror from its structure, nothing happens. Most of the situations all of the vehicles have this
systems. Specially japan vehicles. But after market security systems get trigger when try to
steel, because they work with shock that force in to the car. But the thing is they are really
expensive. Even if the vehicle already has a security system (OEM), people don’t try to add
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another. People in Sri Lanka, they purchase vehicles with leasing and those aftermarket security
systems aren’t affordable. Main reason to important of this project is that, side mirrors in Sri
Lanka not priced as in other countries. Basically they are overpriced, because of the tax that
government put on them. For an example, WagonR basic side mirrors cost is 60000 RS and it is
338 dollars.
Losing a single mirror can impact the vehicle owner’s life style. Most of the owners don’t get
motivated to add aftermarket security systems to their vehicles. I’m also was a victim of side
mirror robberies.
Even if they did, can the side mirrors get protected by the existing security systems?
Answer is simply no. Because vehicle security systems only protect the vehicle not the side
mirrors. Thieves manage to steel vehicles that are protected by the vehicle security systems.
When the vehicle is even vulnerable how the side mirrors and vehicle parts get protected and
that is where my solution come in handy. What if there is a way to protect side mirrors and stop
even increasing of this problem. What if there is a practical and affordable solution for this
matter. And that is why I decided to the research on this topic.
My solution for this research is to invent a vehicle security system that can get alert when try to
steel vehicle parts and track the mirror after stolen. With this solution even if the owner
couldn’t stop the steeling, he or she can track the mirror’s location from the map and can get
the responsible parties to justice. Because of this solution thieves will be afraid even to try not
knowing that the system is in the side mirror. Because of the impact from this solution to the
society, side mirror robberies will significantly lower in Sri Lanka.
5. Primary Research
I gathered information from the vehicle owners who has been already faced these robberies by
interviewing over the phone. I asked from official WagonR owners Facebook club in Sri Lanka
about the solution that I’m going to invent. And did some digging on the blogs that is on the
internet. Also I’m going to interview over the phone and in person as my primary research plan.
1. Do interviews with victim of vehicle parts robberies over the phone and ask about the
situation they have faced and for suggestions.
2. Tell them about my salutation and get their feedback about improvements.
3. Ask about the current side mirror security solution from its developer and find out
defects.
4. Analyze collected data and build the conclusion about what kind of system that it should
be.
5. Start developing the system based on conclusion.
6. Test application in real world scenario.
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7. Do further more improvements using feedback.
8. Rectify the bugs of the application.
9. Release security system to the users.
10. Get feedback from the user.
I asked about the research that I’m going to do from 2 of the WagonR owner’s official club
Facebook pages, you can see the feedback below in image 1.1, 1.2.
1.1
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1.2
I did some research on the internet about this problem, but I couldn’t find a solution for the
side mirror robberies. All of the solution that are on the internet is about how to protect the
vehicle not its parts.
6. Abstract
Current issue is that there is no side mirror security system against thieves in Sri Lanka. Existing
solution is to protect the vehicle from thieves, not the side mirrors and vehicle parts.
To address that issue what I have done is, to make a vehicle security system that can send
messages to user if trying to steel vehicle parts and if got stolen, user can track the mirror using
security app.
Hardware system consist of Arduino and user application has made using angular. I could have
gone with raspberry pi, but reason to choose Arduino because of the low cost. This system
should be affordable and low cost according to the mirror prices.
How it is get activated
This system don’t activate with a touch or vibration. Mirror or vehicle parts have to be removed
to activate it, which is relevant. Because otherwise it’s going to be annoying, because of the
sound that is get triggered when every time touches. People don’t like when this happen and
that is also the situation with the aftermarket security systems. To be an efficient system it
should only work when try to steel.
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Flow of the system is
When thief remove the side mirror, it is going to send messages to user’s phone using Gsm
module in the vehicle security system. And when it is on the move, it’s going to send the
location of the mirror, so the user can check it on the security app. Backup power keeps the
system up when removed from vehicle main power.
7. Mini Literature Review
First security for the car was drivers who have been paid to stay with the car. After that
removable steering wheels were invented by Leach Auto in 1900. Then power locks were
introduced and acquired by GM in 1914. After that door locks were invented. First car alarm
was invented in 1913 by unnamed prisoner from Denver. After that remote starter was
invented in 1916. Then original immobilizer was invented in 1919 by St. George Evans and
Edward Brikenbuel. Vehicle tracking via GPS is the modern vehicle security systems that locate
the vehicle using satellite (Eagle Ridge GM, 2019).
There are two type of vehicle security systems
OEM and aftermarket. OEM is factory fitted systems and aftermarket is third party
manufacturers. Vehicle side mirror security system is a new concept which extremely relevant
to country like Sri Lanka. When we compare with existing vehicle security systems, it’s only
protect the vehicle not the side mirrors or vehicle parts. Side mirror can be easily removed, but
previous researches haven’t focused on this situation.
Vehicle tracking and security system
This system is a security system that immediate response in case of vehicle theft t, an accident,
vehicle breakdown, or other emergency. Guardian and tracking functions are provided through
Mobile Units installed in hidden locations in vehicles to be monitored. The Mobile Units
communicate with a Control Center. Preferably, the Mobile Unit provides vehicle theft and
intrusion protection using an in-vehicle alarm and security system linked to the Control Center
by a transceiver in the Mobile Unit. Also, a keypad or other human interface device is provided,
allowing a vehicle driver or occupant to signal the Control Center that a particular type of
assistance is needed. The vehicle's location may be automatically transmitted to the Control
Center along with any automatic alarm signal or manually entered request, the location being
precisely determinable anywhere in the world through use of Global Positioning System (GPS)
information. The present invention provides continuous monitoring of a large number of
vehicles for a broad range of status and emergency conditions over a virtually unlimited
geographic area, also allowing manual communication of requests for assistance to that specific
location (John and William, 1993).
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Vehicle security system
A vehicle security system including a remote control communicating with the system via an RF
link for remotely arming and/or disarming the system. Modes of system operation include an
armed mode in which sensor outputs are monitored for intrusion indicating conditions and an
RF receiver is monitored for remote commands, an alarm mode in which a siren is sounded in
response to a detection of an intrusion indicating condition during the armed mode, a disarmed
mode in which sensor monitoring for intrusion conditions is disabled, a programming mode in
which features of the system are programmable, a valet mode in which only selected sensor
outputs are monitored, and a pre-arming mode following system disarming and prior to passive
arming, in which the door switch is monitored (Lauren, Craig, Mariner & Norval 1993).
Vehicle security system including an anti-carjacking system
A vehicle security system for protecting a vehicle from carjacking and from theft while the
vehicle is unattended. The portion of the security system which protects the vehicle from theft
while the vehicle is unattended is selectively initiated by pressing a command button on a
remote control transmitter. In response thereto, a first disablement sequence is initiated which
includes disabling the vehicle (David, 1994).
Questions
 Does the Vehicle security systems protect the side mirrors and vehicle parts?
 Can the existing system can track the side mirrors after stolen?
 Does the alarm is enough to notify the user?
OEM and aftermarket security systems only focus on the car not the side mirror. Because OEM
only works if the driver try to get in and start the engine without the smart key. All of the japan
vehicles nowadays has OEM systems. Aftermarket systems work with pressure and touch
sensitivity to identity threat and activate the alarm, but skilled thieves managed to steel the
side mirrors when the system is there.
Does the Vehicle security systems protect the side mirrors and vehicle parts?
Existing Vehicle security systems work with some kind of shock that get to the car. It could be a
hand touch or hitting by something. For some level, after market security systems and
expensive factory fitted security systems give a security with alarm. But when the alarm
activate thief already has the side mirror, so he can just walk away with it.
Can the existing vehicle security systems can track the side mirrors after stolen?
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There are vehicle security systems that can track the vehicle, but there is no side mirror security
system exist yet capable of locating the side mirror on the map that I know of after doing some
research. The solution that I’m trying to achieve can locate from anywhere in world. Gps
module will get the location from its sensors and send the location to the server using GPRS
with Gsm module. It will allow users to monitor live update of the location from the security
app.
Does the alarm is enough to notify the user?
Alarm is useful when owner or people are nearby, what if there is no one nearby. In that
situation does the alarm will enough to protect the vehicle? Even if the alarm triggered, and
owner is somewhere inside will the vehicle get protected by against thieves? No. with the
technological advance in the world the solutions also should be advance. Users should receive a
message or emergency call to his or her phone about the robbery when it happens. In my
solution user can receive messages or emergency calls to their phone with Gsm module, when
vehicle side mirror robbery happens.
It is true that country like Sri Lanka needs this type of systems to lower crisis that happen to
people daily. This may not require for the countries who are already developed because people
are on those countries have good attitudes and habits. But countries like ours, still adapting.
8. Bibliography
Eagle Ridge GM. (2019). The Evolution of Car Security - Eagle Ridge GM. [online] Available at:
https://www.eagleridgegm.com/evolution-car-security/ [Accessed 9 Aug. 2019].
John P.Mansell, William M.Riley (1993). Vehicle tracking and security system. 5,223,844.
Lauren L. L'Esperance, Craig R. Autio, E. Thomas Mariner, Norval D. Stapelfeld (1993). Vehicle
security system. 5,543,776.
David, G. Sonders (1994). Vehicle security system including an anti-carjacking system. 5,307,048.
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