DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF AUTOMATIC VEHICLE
TRACKING SYSTEM USING GPS AND GSM MODULES
BY
MOKWENYE NWACHUKWU GODSON
Reg. No: 16318048
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
IN
PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
AWARD OF
POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONICS
ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA
MAY, 2019
i
DEDICATION
I dedicate this work to all those individuals, groups or corporate organizations that have
suffered or still suffering the theft of vehicles and other valuable assets in our society. The
work is also dedicated to the network of security personnel who are faced with teething
challenges of tackling kidnapping, vandalization, and armed robbery that are prevalent in
Nigeria today..
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DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY
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 within the main report to an
entry in the References list.
I agree that an electronic copy or hardcopy of this report may be stored and used for the
purposes of plagiarism prevention and detection.
I understand that cheating and plagiarism constitute a breach of University Regulations and
will be dealt with accordingly.
Copyright
The copyright of this project and report belongs to University of Abuja.
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Name
Sign/Date
Project Supervisor
Sign/Date:
Head of Department
Name:
Sign/Date:
External Examiner:
Sign/Date:
iv
CERTIFICATION
This is to certify that this project was carried out by Mr. MOKWENYE NWACHUKWU
GODSON with Reg. No 16318048 of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department,
University of Abuja, Nigeria.
Dr. E.M. Eronu
(PROJECT SUPERVISOR)
SIGN & DATE
……………………..
Dr. E.M. Eronu
(DEPARTMENTAL PROJECT COORDINATOR)
SIGN & DATE
Dr. Evans Agwuwike
…………………….
(HEAD OF DEPARTMENT )
SIGN & DATE
________________________________
……………………..
INTERNAL SUPERVISOR
SIGN & DATE
………………………………
……………………
EXTERNAL SUPERVISOR
SIGN & DATE
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am deeply grateful to the members of Academic staff of the Electrical and Electronics
Engineering Department, University of Abuja, especially my project supervisor, Dr. E.M.
Eronu who shared deep insights on the topic and gave proper direction towards the successful
completion of this project. I will like to acknowledge Dr. Jonas Emechebe who also inspired
me to develop keen interest in Power Engineering during his highly enterprising lecture
sessions. Infact I can describe him as a coach. I wil notl forget to extend my gratitude and
warm regards to my amiable wife and my lovely children for their support and cooperation in
the course of this work.
To my friends and colleagues of PG Class 17, I say big congratulations for your tenacity,
commitment and perseverance in the face of family and work challenges to have successfully
completed this program. I appreciate you all and wish you God’s blessings and guidance in
all your future endeavors.
Finally and above all, I return all glory, all hon our, adoration, power and majesty to the
Most High God for His faithfulness, grace, mercies, lovingkindness, provisions and
sustenance for the successful completion of the program.
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ABSTRACT
An efficient vehicle tracking system is designed and implemented for tracking the movement
of any equipped vehicle from any location at any time. The proposed system made good use
of a popular technology that combines a Smartphone application with a microcontroller. This
will be easy to make and inexpensive compared to others. The designed in-vehicle device
works using Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global system for mobile communication /
General Packet Radio Service (GSM/GPRS) technology that is one of the most common ways
for vehicle tracking. The device is embedded inside a vehicle whose position is to be
determined and tracked in real-time. A microcontroller is used to control the GPS and
GSM/GPRS modules. The vehicle tracking system uses the GPS module to get geographic
coordinates at regular time intervals. The GSM/GPRS module is used to transmit and update
the vehicle location to a database. A Smartphone application is also developed for
continuously monitoring the vehicle location. The Google Maps API is used to display the
vehicle on the map in the Smartphone application. Thus, users will be able to continuously
monitor a moving vehicle on demand using the Smartphone application and determine the
estimated distance and time for the vehicle to arrive at a given destination. In order to show
the feasibility and effectiveness of the system, this paper presents experimental results of the
vehicle tracking system and some experiences on practical implementations
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dedication …………………………………………………………………. …………… i
Declaration of Original …………………………………………………………………….ii
Certification - ……………………………………………………………………………..iii
Abstract …………………………………………………………………………………. . iv
List of tables ………………………………………………………………………………viii
List of figures …………………………………………………………………………….. ix
Acronyms-
……………………………………………………………………………….x
Acknowledgement-
……………………………………………………………………. xi
CHAPTER ONE
……………………………………………………………………..1
1.0 Introduction To Tracking Systems - …………………………………………………..1
1.1 Background of the study - ……………………………………………………………..3
1.2 Statement of the problem - …………………………………………………………….4
1.2.1 Project Impact Analysis (STEEPLE ANALYSIS) - ………………………………4
(Societal, Technological, Environmental, Ethical, Political, Legal and Economic) -………4
1.3 Motivati ……………………………………………………………………………….6
1.4 Project aim and objectives -
…………………………………………………………6
1.5 Scope of study - -……………………………………………………………………...6
1.6 Organization of report CHAPTER TWO
……………………………………………………………...7
……………………………………………………………………….8
2.1 Literature Review-
…………………………………………………………………... 8
2.2 Survey of Related Works
……………………………………………………
8
2.2.1 History of Global Positioning System (GPS) - ………………………………………13
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…………………………………………………………………..13
2.3 GSM Technology-
2.3.1 GSM modem- -……………………………………………………………………...15
2.3.2 Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)- ……………………………………………
15
2.4 Different Technologies used in Tracking Systems- …………………………………..15
2.4.1 Active and Passive Tracking - -……………………………………………………...15
……………………………………………………………………18
CHAPTER THREE
3.1 Methodology-
-……………………………………………………………………...18
…………………………………………………………18
3.2 Major Components Used-
……………………………………………………19
3.2.1 Description of Components -
……………………………………………..21
3.3 Hardware and Software Requirements
………………………………………………………………………....22
3.4 Arduino Uno
3.4.1 Choice of Arduino -
………………………………………………………………..22
3.4.2 Power Source for Arduino Board3.4.3 Special Arduino Function Pins-
………………………………………………..26
…………………………………………………...27
3.4.4 Programming- - ……………………………………………………………………...28
………………………………………………………………………29
3.5 Power Relay-
3.6 Microcontroller- -………………………………………………………………………30.
3.7 GPS (Global Positioning System) - …………………………………………………...33
………………………………………………………….34
3.7.1 GPS Module Highlights3.7.2 GPS/GSM Status Indicators3.8 GSM Module Description
3.9 Software -
……………………………………………………….35
…………..………………………………………………..36
……………………………………………………………………………39
3.10 Device Operation3.11 Power Supply-
………………………………………………………………….41
……………………………………………………………………...43
………………………………………43
3.12 Procedure for Design and Construction-
ix
3.13 Working Principles -
…………………………………………………………….. 45
3.14 System Architecture -
……………………………………………………………….45
CHAPTER FOUR ……………………………………………………………………….46
………………………………………...46
4.1 Testing, Analysis of Results and Discussions
4.1.1 Hardware Assembling and Testing: - ……………………………………………..…46
4.2 Results
- ……………………………………………………………………………..46
…………………………………………...47
4.2.1 Test Results From Selected Locations -
…………………………………………………………….49
4.3 Performance Evaluation-
4.3.1 Performance Analysis Using Different SIMs4.3.2 Benefits and Application of AVT System
4.4 Ethical Issues -
……………………………………...50
…………………………………………..51
-………………………………………………………………………52
4.5 Disadvantages of GPS Tracking- - ………………………………………………..…..55
4.6 Types of Tracking Technologies- CHAPTER FIVE-
…………………………………………………...56
-………………………………………………………………………59
5.1 Conclusions -
………………………………………………………………………....59
5.2 Limitations-
…………………………………………………………………………59
5.3 Future Work
-……………………………………………………………………….60
5.4 Design Constraints-
-………………………………………………………………60
5.5 Contribution to knowledge REFERENCES APPENDIX
…………………………………………………………61
………………………………………………………………………62
………………………………………………………………………………64
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LIST OF FIGURES
Fig 2.1 Telit GM862 module used as a tracking system- ……………………………………………………..12
Fig.3.1: Block Diagram of Vehicle Tracking System
Fig. 3.2 SIM 808 Embedded on GSM ModuleFig. 3.3 Block Diagram of SIM 808 Fig 3.4 SIM 808 (Top View) -
………………………………………...18
…………………………………………….19
………………………………………………………………………….20
………………………………………………………………………………….20
Fig. 3.5 SIM 808 PinOut Description-
……………………………………………………. 21
Fig 3.6 Arduino Uno Microcontroller Board showing Functional parts- …………………24
Fig 3.7 Fuel Pump Power Relay-
-…………………………………………………………….29
Fig 3.8 PinOut Description of ATMega 328 Microcontroller- ……………………………...30
Fig. 3.9 Functional Pins of ATMega 328 assigned to Arduino specified sockets- ………..31
Fig 3.10: ATMega 328 Microcontroller Block Diagram-
-……………………………………………33
Fig 3.11 Dimensional specs and pictorial view of the GPS Module .-
…………………………34
Fig 3.12 AVTS Device Circuitry Components ………………………………………………….. 37
Fig 3.13 GPS/GSM Modules integrated on a single PCB-
…………………………………………….37
Fig. 3.14 GPS Antenna- ………………………………………………………………………………………………….38
Fig. 3.15 GSM Antenna ………………………………………………………………………………………………….33Fig 3.16 AVTS Device Construction mounted on Plastic Base showing Arduino on top……….38
Fig 3.17 Operational Architecture of AVT System-
……………………………………………………….39-
Fig 3.18 AVTS Operation Flowchart - - ……………………………………………………………………………40
Fig 3.19 Transmit/Receive Wiring Connection between Arduino and GPS/GSM Module-…..41
Figs 4.1 Location coordinates & Google map display for NNPC and Transcorp Hilton ……….47
Fig4.3 Response time for 4 different Network Providers in Nigeria-………………………….....’50
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LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1 Summary of Earlier Works on AVT System- …………………………………………………..17
Table 3.1 GSM Quad Band Operation in NigeriaTable 3.2 GSM/GPS LED indicator Functions- -
………………………………………………………..20
……………………………………………………………..42
Table 4.1: Comparison of Test Results with Standard Google Map Coordinates………………49
Table 4.2: Response time for 4 different Network Providers in Nigeria…………………………….50
ACRONYMS
GPS Global Positioning System
GPRS General Packet Radio Service
SIM Subscriber Identification Module
HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol
GSM Global System for Mobile communications
EGSM Extended Global System for Mobile communications
DCS Digital Cellular Service
PCS Personal Communications Service
TTFF Time-To-First-Fix
CS Communication Service
PHP Hypertext Preprocessor
XML Hypertext Mark-up Language
WAMP Windows Apache MySQL PHP
GGSN Gateway GPRS Support Node
PCB Power Circuit Board
AT Attention commands
MISO Master in Slave Out
MOSI Master Out Slave In
SCK Clock Signal from master to slave
GND Ground Signal
GPIO General Purpose Input/ Output
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MCU Microcontroller Unit
RISC Reduced Instruction Set Computer
MIPS Million Instructions per Second
ALU Arithmetic Logic Unit
EEPROM Electrically Erasable Programmable Memory
SRAM Static Random Access Memory
I/O Input/output
xiii