GNSS tracker

The GPS tracker contains a GPS receiver , with the help of which it determines its coordinates, as well as a GSM- based transmitter that transmits data via GPRS , SMS or based on satellite communications to send them to a server center equipped with special software for satellite monitoring. In addition to the GPS receiver and transmitter, an important technical element of the tracker is the GPS antenna, which can be either external or integrated into the tracker; accumulator battery; built-in memory.

Modern mobile phones and smartphones can be used as a GPS tracker. There are a huge number of applications for periodically sending the device location to the monitoring server.

By design and scope, there are two classes of GPS trackers:

• Personal GPS tracker - usually the so-called small size GPS tracker. Designed to control people or pets . GPS tracking is also available on some cell phone models.
• A GPS car tracker ( often referred to as: a car controller or car recorder) is a station device that connects to the on-board network of a car or other vehicle.

Using GPS to determine the location of the object and various communication channels for delivering information to the user, transport control systems allow you to trace in detail the entire route of the vehicle and the control of numerous other parameters.

Scopes of GPS-control of transport:

• Transport companies
• Emergency services
• Insurance companies
• Fleets
• Security services
• Passenger Transportation Services
• Rescue services
• Construction companies
• Collection Services
• Agricultural enterprises
• Courier and postal services
• Utility services
• Trading companies
• Taxi parks and taxi dispatch services
• Private car
• App TransportCity

The principle of the GPS vehicle control system

The main device in the GPS vehicle control system is the GLONASS / GPS / GSM terminal, which performs the functions of determining coordinates using a satellite receiver, collecting information from on-board equipment and additional sensors, sending information via GSM communication channels, controlling on-board equipment by commands received from the operator. The collected information is then transferred to the processing server in the form of a binary AVL packet containing a “snapshot” of the data received by the terminal — time, coordinates, value of internal and external parameters. The AVL packet is transmitted to the server during the movement of the vehicle through wireless channels, GPRS or 3G, or during parking at the base via direct cable connection. The user then receives information from the server using the client part of the software, or, in some cases, directly through the browser using the system’s WEB interface .

Benefits of Using GPS Vehicle Control Systems

• Reduced vehicle mileage. Due to route optimization, traffic redirection depending on the current situation is achieved by reducing mileage by 5-15%.
• The exclusion of the "human factor". The control system for vehicles prevents inappropriate use for personal purposes or the implementation of "left" flights.
• Improving the use of transport. Competent automated dispatching with real-time control makes it possible to reduce the downtime of equipment and increase the load on trucks.
• Improving the quality of customer service. Effective management, based on constant monitoring, allows you to increase the speed of customer service, quickly resolve emerging disputes.
• Reduced fuel consumption by 20-30%.

Scopes of personal GPS-control :

• Monitoring of field employees of companies: insurance, advertising agents, merchandisers , sales agents, couriers, etc .;
• Tracking valuable luggage, cargo;
• Supervision of children, elderly relatives;
• Animal tracking;
• Tourism, outdoor activities.

The composition of the personal control complex

The hardware and software complex includes personal trackers, a server with special software, and end-user devices — personal computers connected to the Internet and / or cell phones capable of executing downloaded programs of a certain type and having access to the Internet. The complex also includes GPS navigation satellites, a GSM cellular network and the Internet. Due to the general availability and global nature of these components, the complex can be applied wherever there is:

1) the ability for trackers to receive signals from GPS navigation satellites; 2) GSM cellular coverage; 3) access to the Internet information network. The user can control persons (animals, objects) equipped with personal trackers, almost throughout the globe. In addition, the user himself can be located at a considerable distance from his usual location - if only in both cases the above three conditions are met.

The principle of operation of the personal control system

The device records the received information at regular intervals, and then it can record or transfer this data via radio, GPRS or GSM connection, satellite modem to a support server or other computer (for example, via SMS or via the Internet). In the case of using the support server, it processes the received data and registers them in its database; then the user of the tracker can log into the system’s server on the Internet using his name and password, and the system displays the location and geography of movement on the map. Tracker movements can be analyzed either in real time or later. GPS tracking is available on some cell phone models.

Based on the areas of use, there are two types of GPS equipment:

• GPS trackers for tracking vehicles (navigation trackers). In addition to local navigation devices that indicate to the driver the current location and (possibly) the route to a given point, vehicle control and monitoring devices have appeared on the market, showing a certain person (dispatcher) the route and / or current location and information about the state of the vehicle. The latest devices can operate both in real time (transmitting data via a wireless communication channel) and in the “ black box ” mode, storing vehicle data for some time (with subsequent data transfer via a wireless or wired communication channel). New generation devices have significantly expanded functionality - a large set of plug-in external sensors, a significant amount of a “black box” for storing measurement results, etc.
• Personal GPS trackers . These devices are designed to determine the location of a person (object) using navigation satellites and transfer this data to the server. In addition, most of these devices allow you to transmit to the server a signal about pressing a function button (SOS button). Some devices have a voice channel for communication with one or more subscribers, for listening to the situation and / or for receiving incoming calls (in most of such devices only a part of these functions is implemented).

The tracker can be used to determine the location of people, animals, goods or vehicles , as well as other objects. A GPS tracker records location data and transmits it at regular intervals via radio, GPRS or GSM connection, a satellite modem to a server control center or just a computer with special software . The user of the tracker, or the dispatcher conducting control over the object, can connect to the server of the system using the client program or the web interface under his login and password . The system displays the location of the object and the history of its movement on the map . Tracker movements can be analyzed either in real time or later.

Tracker features include:

• Traffic control. For example, a transport company or a taxi service can put a tracker in cars and get information about the time and route , look for stolen vehicles. See satellite vehicle monitoring .
• Monitoring of vehicle operation parameters. Information can be obtained from available on the car, or additionally installed sensors. So, data can be obtained on the amount of fuel in the tank, fuel consumption by the engine, axle load, temperature in the refrigerator , etc.
• Observation of people. They can be used to control human movements most often, to search and protect children or the elderly .
• Supervision of employees . GPS control helps to identify the route of field workers (sales representatives, drivers , product experts and others).
• Control over the movement of animals. Such trackers can be in the form of collars or used by scientists or pet owners ^[1] .
• Monitoring the progress of sporting events. The tracker allows you to find out about the route of the competitor (for example, in gliding ), jogging , during rallies ^[2] ).
• Semi-automatic digital photo geotagging in EXIF / IPTC , for binding photos to global coordinates and further viewing on maps.

There are several cases when people try to disable the GPS tracker, to discredit the control system as a whole.

• Theft of object under control
• Violation of discipline by the person under control
• Other criminal actions. Fuel theft, conspiracy to enrich (in quality control systems of the patrol service).

In the first case, a means of suppressing the GSM / GPS signal from the tracker is used against the GPS tracker. In many countries, the use of signal suppression is considered illegal. At the same time, most GPS trackers have built-in memory for several hundred thousand points and can record their location in the absence of communication with the GSM network. In this case, after reconnecting to the server center, all the information accumulated in the black box is transferred there. Some software systems provide for triggering an alarm notification in the event of a loss of communication with the device, which allows you to take emergency measures immediately after the attacker activates the means of suppressing a GSM signal.

In the second case, the person interested in the damage to the GPS tracker is the driver of a company car, which is under the control of the satellite control system. The control does not allow such a driver to uncontrolledly use official vehicles for personal purposes, and blocks most schemes of covert theft of the employer's material assets. The second case includes company personnel who work remotely and do not want to observe labor discipline. Downtime, non-compliance with routes or the absence of an employee in a specified place at a specified time, home registrations and direct theft of fuel cannot but affect the financial results of the enterprise, the efficiency of government organizations ^[3] .

In the third case, the interested person wishes to receive material benefits from failure to fulfill his duties and at the same time to evade responsibility. An example is the protection of borders and perimeters of objects. As a rule, in such cases, the subject tries to turn off the power supply of the GPS tracker, turn off additional sensors, with the help of which the system monitors the fuel consumption parameters and further presents the situation as a hardware failure.

Most often, trackers are disabled mechanically, or by exposing them to high voltage or electromagnetic waves .

• Satellite monitoring of transport