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Vehicle Tracking System using Internet of Things

Thesis · May 2018

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.12437.96482

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 VEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEM USING IoT

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
Master of Computer Applications

PROJECT REPORT

NAME : ARGHA GHOSH

REG. NO. : 15352095

BATCH : II

SEMESTER : VI

YEAR : III

PONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY
(A Central University)
R.Venkataraman Nagar, Kalapet
PUDUCHERRY-605014
 PONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY
(A Central University)
R.Venkataraman Nagar, Kalapet
PUDUCHERRY-605014

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
Master of Computer Application

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE
Certified that this is a bonafide report of project work done by ARGHA GHOSH with
register number 15352095 of M.C.A in semester VI during the academic year 2017-18.

Project Guide Head of the Department

R.P.SEENIVASAN Dr. T. Chithralekha
Assistant Professor, Associate Professor/ HOD,
Dept. of Computer Science Dept. of Computer Science

nd
Submitted for the viva-voce examination held on 2 May, 2018 at the
Department of Computer Science, Pondicherry University

Internal Examiner External Examiner

1
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

An idea is the first step for generation & development of anything. The initial idea may have
been of any one person, but the development & improvement on it have always been a result of
hard work, help, inspiration and blessings of several different people.
I would also like to thank my project Guide R.P.SEENIVASAN, Assistant Professor,
Department of Computer Science School of Engineering Technology, Pondicherry University
who never hesitated in extending their sincere co-operation from time to time to prepare an
interesting and challenging project.
It is a pleasure acknowledgement with deep sense of gratitude the invaluable help by Dr. T.
Chithralekha, Head (i/c), Department of Computer Science, School of Engineering
& Technology, Pondicherry University for the successful completion of this project
report.
The guidance and support received from all the teaching and non-teaching staff of the
Department of Computer Science was vital for the success of the project. I am also thankful to
my family and friends for their continuous support and encouragement throughout the course. I
take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the people who have been instrumental in the
completion of this project.

Argha Ghosh
15352095
MCA-3rd Year

2
 ABSTRACT

In this project we are going one step ahead with GPS and going to track a vehicle using GPS and
GSM. This Vehicle Tracking System can also be used for Accident Detection Alert System,
Soldier Tracking System and many more, by just making few changes in hardware and software.

Tracking of vehicle is a process in which we track the vehicle location in form of Latitude and
Longitude (GPS coordinates). GPS Coordinates are the value of a location. This system is very
efficient for outdoor application purpose.

This kind of Vehicle Tracking System Project is widely in tracking Cabs/Taxis, stolen vehicles,
school/colleges buses etc.

This system is basically an embedded one. Embedded stands for hardware controlled by
software. Here, the software using a Arduino controls all the hardware components. Arduino
plays an important role in the system.

Currently almost of the public having an own vehicle, theft is happening on parking and
sometimes driving insecurity places. The safe of vehicles is extremely essential for public
vehicles. Vehicle tracking and locking system installed in the vehicle, to track the place.
The place of the vehicle identified using Global Positioning system (GPS) and Global system
mobile communication (GSM). These systems constantly watch a moving Vehicle and report
the status on demand. When the theft identified, the responsible person send SMS to the
microcontroller, then microcontroller issue the control signals to stop the engine motor.
Authorized person need to send the password to controller to restart the vehicle and open the
door. This is more secured, reliable and low cost.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
S. No TITLE PAGE NO

CERTIFICATE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT----------------------------------------------
1 INTRODUCTION---------------------------------
1.1 Research background
1.2 Problem statement
1.3 Objective of the study
1.4 Scope of study
1.5 Significance of the study
2 MODULES---------------------------------------------
2.1 Arduino
2.2 GPS Module
2.3 GSM Module
3 DESIGN--------------------------------------

3.1 Project Flow

3.2 Sequence and Activity Diagram
3.3 Components were used
3.4 Working Principal
3.5 Circuit Explanation
3.6 Software and Technology Specification
3.7 Programming the Arduino Uno

4 SOURCE CODE------------------------------ -

5 OUTPUT--------------------------------------------------------------
6 RESULTS-------------------------------------------------
7 CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORKS -------------
7.1 Conclusion
7.2 Future Recommendation

8 ABBREVIATION AND ARDUINO UNO PIN FUNCTIONS

4
 1.INTRODUCTION

1.1 Research background

Vehicle Tracking system is getting popular and widely used in a lot of countries
worldwide. It has tons of advantages to users even more to the vehicle users in which it will
make it easier for them to track their vehicles.
Nowadays, everyone cannot be separated from their smartphones. a number of
five thousands individuals from USA, UK, South Korea, India, China, South Africa, Indonesia
and Brazil took a survey regarding which was done by Time magazine. The result proved most
of them is inseparable from their smartphones, eighty four per cent allegedly claimed that
survive without their smartphones.
Another study shows that seventy five per cent of the market share is smartphone and a
total of one hundred and six million smartphone were shipped in the second half of
2012.Smartphone became the top telecommunication medium in the market in the present time
worldwide and it became the most popular used telecommunication medium known to man.
So, from the above mentioned survey now it’s clear that how smartphones became
important and integral part of our modern day life, that’s the reason to make this vehicle tracking
system text message oriented so that we can take care of our own vehicle in just one touch of our
hand. Through smart phone we can track real time location of our vehicle with the help of
internet connection. In such a manner, this tracking system designed so that users can have easy
and user friendly interface to fetch their vehicle.

1.2 Problem statement

In the present day vehicle tracking is becoming essential for the purpose of improving our
life condition. Convenience and ease of using vehicle is what home vehicle tracking is offering.
Vehicle tracking offers a futuristic way of life in which an individual gets to control his vehicle
using a smart phone, from tracking a vehicle /detecting accidental place of a vehicle; it also
offers an efficient use of technology.
But to get or acquire such system installed will cost a lot of money and that is the major
reason of why vehicle tracking has not received much demand and attention, adding to that also
the complexity of installing it and configuring it. Thus it is essential to make it cost effective and
easy to configure, if this is granted to people then they will be willing to acquire it in their
personal vehicles, school buses and taxes/cabs etc. In other words, a system modification for the
vehicle tracking is required in order to lower the price of applying it to vehicles. Also this
tracking project can be used to purpose of women safety as well as parents can be used to take
care of their child/kid for the safety or missing purpose or to track their activities for their future.
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 Even more realistically this project can be used to track airline baggage because as we
know every year almost 13% airline baggage used to get missing by a worldwide survey.

1.3 Objective of the study

To construct a vehicle tracking system controlled by a smartphone specifically an

embedded device. To design and implement cost effective vehicle tracking system yet an
efficient one.
To design a user friendly and a safe system to control vehicles especially aimed to aid the all
aged people. As well as it’s designed such a way so that it can be used for multi-purpose
like detecting the accident place of the vehicle or the accident alert system as well as it’s
useful to track soldiers or to track child/ kid for their safety or missing purpose and also can
be useful for women safety purpose. So when this embedded system design take care of
every aspect of its purpose as it mentioned above.

1.4 Scope of study

In order to fulfil the stated objectives several steps must be taken. These steps
involve both software programming and hardware implementation.

These steps are as follows:

o Establishing a wireless network communication between the GSM module
and the smart phone, using a microcontroller (Arduino-Uno).
o Create a simple yet reliable vehicle tracking system using Arduino-Uno as a
microcontroller that will be the medium between the GPS and the GSM
module so that embed system works efficiently.
o To find a suitable place locator app (in this project we are using Google Maps)
that will work efficiently with the internet connection (online as well as offline)
in order to track the vehicles.
o Program the Arduino-Uno board in a way that will let it interact with the
GPS and GSM module directly and easily.

1.5 Significance of the study

This study will be undertaken to create a vehicle tracking system at low cost and easy to
create, this will benefit both the manufacturer and the client. It will help the manufacturer by
making it easy and cheaper to apply it, and it will also benefit the clients by making it cost

6
effective and the most important advantage is that it will make the vehicle a much more safer
than its actually for the clients.
2. MODULES
Vehicle Tracking System

Tracking of vehicle is a process in which we track the vehicle location in form of Latitude
and Longitude (GPS coordinates). GPS Coordinates are the value of a location. This system
is very efficient for outdoor application purpose.

This kind of Vehicle Tracking System Project is widely in tracking

Cabs/Taxis, stolen vehicles, school/colleges buses etc.

This circuit is designed for tracking the location of vehicles. Most of tracking systems are
made by using GPS. This is very simple and cheap. Tracking systems are mostly used by fleet
operators for tracking a vehicle location, routing and others. This is a very good method for
preventing our vehicles from stolen. This tracking system sends us the geographical
coordinates and by using these coordinates we can track our vehicle position on electronic
maps using internet. By using these tacking systems we can share real time information about
transportations. And also can be share real time information or position bus/taxi/cab with
passengers. Means passengers can see the real time of arriving bus/taxi/cab on Mobiles.

2.1 Arduino
Arduino is open source physical processing which is base on a microcontroller board and
an incorporated development environment for the board to be programmed. Arduino gains a
few inputs, for example, switches or sensors and control a few multiple outputs, for example,
lights, engine and others. Arduino program can run on Windows, Macintosh and Linux
operating systems (OS) opposite to most microcontrollers’ frameworks which run only on
Windows. Arduino programming is easy to learn and apply to beginners and amateurs.
Arduino is an instrument used to build a better version of a computer which can
control, interact and sense more than a normal desktop computer. It's an open-source physical
processing stage focused around a straightforward microcontroller board, and an environment
for composing programs for the board. Arduino can be utilized to create interactive items,
taking inputs from a diverse collection of switches or sensors, and controlling an assortment of
lights, engines, and other physical outputs. Arduino activities can be remaining solitary, or they
7
 can be associated with programs running on your machine (e.g. Flash, Processing and
Maxmsp.) The board can be amassed by hand or bought preassembled; the open-source IDE
can be downloaded free of charge.
Focused around the Processing media programming environment, the Arduino programming
language is an execution of Wiring, a comparative physical computing platform.

2.1.1 Why choosing Arduino

There are numerous different microcontrollers and microcontroller platforms

accessible for physical computing. Parallax Basic Stamp, Netmedia's BX-24, Phidgets,
MIT's Handyboard, and numerous others offer comparative usefulness. These apparatuses
take the chaotic subtle elements of microcontroller programming and wrap it up in a
simple to-utilize bundle. Arduino additionally rearranges the methodology of working with
microcontrollers; moreover it offers some advantages for instructors, students, and
intrigued individuals:
• Inexpensive - Arduino boards are moderately cheap compared with other microcontroller
boards. The cheapest version of the Arduino module can be amassed by hand, and even
the preassembled Arduino modules cost short of 450 bucks.
• Cross-platform - The Arduino programming runs multiple operating systems Windows,
Macintosh OSX, and Linux working frameworks. So we conclude that Arduino has an
advantage as most microcontroller frameworks are constrained to Windows.
• Straightforward, clear programming method - The Arduino programming environment is
easy to use for novices, yet sufficiently versatile for cutting edge customers to adventure as
well. For educators, its favourably engaged around the Processing programming
environment, so understudies finding ways to understand how to program in that
environment will be familiar with the nature of Arduino.
2.1.2 Little bit more about Arduino

The Arduino Uno is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega328. It has a 16 MHz ceramic
resonator, 14 digital input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM outputs), 6 analog inputs,

8
a USB connection, a power jack, an In-Circuit Serial Programming header, and a reset button.
This board is very simple and can be easily used, everything you need to support the
microcontroller is in this board, just plug it in a computer via USB cable and power using an
AC-to-DC adapter or battery to get started. "Uno" means one in Italian and was chosen to mark
the release of Arduino Software (IDE) 1.0.

2.2. GPS Module

GPS stands for Global Positioning System and used to detect the Latitude and Longitude
of any location on the Earth, with exact Universal Time Co-ordinate time. This device
receives the coordinates from the satellite for each and every second, with time and date.
GPS offers great accuracy and also provides other data besides position coordinates. The
module connects to the Arduino through a 9600 bps Transistor-Transistor Logic-level
interface. Only four wires are needed to read the module's GPS data. This module
Compatible with 3.3V-5V interface. It also has an Electrically Erasable Programmable
Read-Only Memory and a Flash which is useful to save configuration data.

2.3 GSM Module

It has On board Micro SIM card holder. Its Working frequencies are quad-band network, 850 /
900 / 1800 / 1900MHZ.It can communicate with TTL(Transistor– transistor logic) serial port.
It can communicate with controllers via AT commands. This module support software power

9
on and reset. It able to make and answer phone calls ,Sending and receiving SMS. It can send
and receive GPRS data through TCP/IP, HTTP protocol.

3. DESIGN
3.1. Project Flow
Gathering the Hardware though needed

Drawing the circuit diagram

Assemble those Hardware according to circuit diagram

Write down the code on Arduino compiler

Upload the code to Arduino

On the Embedded System

3.2 Sequence and Activity Diagram

10
 3.3 Components were used

 Arduino Uno R3
 GPS Module NEO6MV2 NEO-6M
 Thinklets™ A6 GSM GPRS Module
 Power Supply (9V Batteries)
 Connecting Wires(Jumper Wires)

3.4 Working Principal

In this project, Arduino will use for controlling whole the process with a GPS
Receiver and GSM module.GPS Receiver is used for detecting coordinates of the
embedded system, and GSM module is used for sending the coordinates to user by
SMS.When we turn on embedded system first GPS module will collect the Latitude
and Longitude of the embedded system and it will send the data to the Arduino and
then Arduino will send the data to the GSM module and GSM module will send the
SMS to the user.

3.5 Circuit Explanation

GPS’s RX and TX pins are going respectively to the Arduino’s D2 and D3 pins.GPS’s
GND pin common to the Arduino’s GND pins and GPS’s VCC pin goes to arduino’s 5V
power source pin.
GSM’s RX and TX pins are going to Arduino’s D1 and D2 pins respectively and
GND pin of GSM Module are common to the Arduino’s GND pin.

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3.6 Software and Technology Specification
❖ Software
• Arduino compiler version 1.8.5
• Programming Language: C
❖ Technology
• GSM
• GPS
• IoT - Internet of Things

3.6 Programming the Arduino-Uno

In order for the Arduino-Uno board to be able to interact with the application used in this
project certain program (code) needs to be uploaded to the Arduino-Uno. Arduino Company
provides user friendly software which allows writing any code for any function wanted to be
performed by the Arduino-Uno and upload it to the board. Refer to chapter 4 for the full
source code of the Arduino-Uno board.

12
 4. Source Code
#include<SoftwareSerial.h>

SoftwareSerial GPSModule(3,2); /* TX,RX Pins of GPS Module*/

int updates;

int failedUpdates;

int pos;

int stringplace = 0;

char phone_no[]="7418916610"; //User’s Phone Number

String timeUp;

String nmea[15]; /* Character Array to store GPS data */

String labels[12] {"Time: ", "Status: ", "Latitude: ", "Hemisphere: ", "Longitude: ", "Hemisphere:
", "Speed: ", "Track Angle: ", "Date: "}; /*Respective Labels for GPS data*/

/*Main() Function */

void setup() { Serial.begin(9600); /* Setting the baud-rate of the program */

GPSModule.begin(9600); /* Starting as well as setting the baud-rate of GPS Module */

Serial.println("Vehicle Tracking");

delay(3000);} /* End of Main() Function */

//Loop() Function for performing the task again and again

void loop() { Serial.flush();

GPSModule.flush(); //Tuning on the GPS flush LED

/* Checking GPS data available or not */

while (GPSModule.available() > 0){

GPSModule.read();} /* if GPS data available then reading the GPS data */

if (GPSModule.find("$GPRMC,")) {/*Storing and retrieving GPS data in their respective order*/

String tempMsg = GPSModule.readStringUntil('\n');

for (int i = 0; i < tempMsg.length(); i++) { if(tempMsg.substring(i, i + 1) == ",") {

nmea[pos] = tempMsg.substring(stringplace, i);

13
stringplace = i + 1;

pos++;} //Those GPS data are in their GPS string format, not yet refine in normal form

if (i == tempMsg.length() - 1) { /* checking all the respective GPS data store or not */

nmea[pos] = tempMsg.substring(stringplace, i);}}

updates++;

/* Calling user define function to convert Latitude and Longitude respectively */

nmea[2] = ConvertLat();

nmea[4] = ConvertLng();

for (int i = 0; i < 9; i++) {

Serial.print(labels[i]);

Serial.print(nmea[i]);

Serial.println("");}

delay(300);

/* Sending SMS */

Serial.println("AT+CMGF=1"); /* AT Command for Sending SMS */

delay(2000);

Serial.print("AT+CMGS=\"");

Serial.print(phone_no); /* User’s Phone Number */

Serial.write(0x22);

Serial.write(0x0D); /* Hex Equivalent of Carriage Return

*/ Serial.write(0x0A); /* Hex Equivalent of Newline */

delay(2000);

/* SMS String or Message */

Serial.println("Welcome to Vehicle Tracking");

Serial.print("Latitude:");

Serial.println(nmea[2]);

14
Serial.print("Longitude:");

Serial.println(nmea[4]);

/* Generating The URL */

Serial.print("https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/");

Serial.print(nmea[2]);

Serial.print(",");

Serial.print(nmea[4]);

delay(500);

Serial.println (char(26)); /* The ASCII code of the ctrl+z is 26 */

delay(120000);} /* Creating the 2 minutes Interval between SMS’s */

else {

failedUpdates++;}

stringplace = 0;

pos = 0;}

/* Converting the Latitude from core GPS’s Latitude data */

String ConvertLat() {

String posneg = "";

if (nmea[3] == "S") {

posneg = "-";}

String latfirst;
float latsecond;

for (int i = 0; i < nmea[2].length(); i++) {

if (nmea[2].substring(i, i + 1) == ".") {

latfirst = nmea[2].substring(0, i - 2);

latsecond = nmea[2].substring(i - 2).toFloat();}}

latsecond = latsecond / 60;

String CalcLat = "";

15
char charVal[9];

dtostrf(latsecond, 4, 6, charVal);
for (int i = 0; i < sizeof(charVal); i++){

CalcLat += charVal[i];}

latfirst += CalcLat.substring(1);

latfirst = posneg += latfirst;

return latfirst;}

/* Converting the Longitude from core GPS’s Longitude data */

String ConvertLng() {

String posneg = "";

if (nmea[5] == "W") {

posneg = "-";}

String lngfirst;

float lngsecond;

for (int i = 0; i < nmea[4].length(); i++) {

if (nmea[4].substring(i, i + 1) == ".") {

lngfirst = nmea[4].substring(0, i - 2);

lngsecond = nmea[4].substring(i - 2).toFloat();}}

lngsecond = lngsecond / 60;

String CalcLng = "";

char charVal[9];

dtostrf(lngsecond, 4, 6, charVal);

for (int i = 0; i < sizeof(charVal); i++){

CalcLng += charVal[i];}

lngfirst += CalcLng.substring(1);

lngfirst = posneg += lngfirst;

return lngfirst;}
16
5. Output

17
 6. RESULTS
This chapter discusses the results and any limitation and problems
encountered during the period of the project. Managed to
successfully apply the VEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEM USING
IoT and it was user friendly and cost effective. User friendly as in anyone can use
just a click of a URL on a smart phone screen and everything works. And it is cost
effective as in it will cost exactly as the project requires (optimum price). Figure shows
the prototype of the system.

7. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORKS

This chapter confers on the conclusion of Vehicle Tracking System Using IoT and
discusses some future recommendation.
7.1 Conclusion
It can be concluded that VEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEM USING IoT was a success. This
system consists of an Arduino-Uno board, a GPS Module, a GSM Module and a Google
Map Application. It is user friendly and it is cost effective. Also it can be concluded that the
objectives of this project has been successfully met and they are as follows:

• Constructed a vehicle tracking system controlled by a smartphone

specifically an embedded device.
• Designed and implement cost effective vehicle tracking system yet an efficient
one.

• Designed a user friendly and a safe system to control vehicles especially aimed to
aid the elders.

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7.2 Future Recommendations
There are some recommendations for Future works. Some of them are:

1. Better to use breadboard because without using any resistors connecting directly those
modules to arduino can goes wrong in the matter of voltage up-down.
2. Test each and every component before using them especially the relays for safety purposes.

8. ABBREVIATION AND ARDUINO UNO PIN FUNCTIONS

USB To PC : It is used to communicate Arduino via Universal Serial Bus to PC for

programming/sending data to Arduino serially.

7V to 12V DC Input : For external supply, the voltage range of 7V to 12V DC is

recommended. The 9V battery can be used to power your Arduino Uno board.

Reset Button : It Resets the Arduino board if pressed.

ICSP : Abbreviated as In Circuit Serial Programming which consists of MOSI, MISO, SCK,
RESET, VCC, GND. It is either used to program USB or Microcontroller (For UNO, ATmega
328P-PU). ICSP allows the user to program the microcontroller when it is in circuits, In
Arduino UNO it allows to program ATmega328P-PU directly with AVR instructions without
using Arduino IDE.

19
 SDA : Serial Data, It is the bidirectional data line that is used by I2C.

SCL : Serial Clock, It is used to indicate that data is ready on bidirectional data line that is used
by I2C.

AREF : Analog Read Reference, It is mainly used for analogReference() function calls, as
default it is not required but to use it you have to add some voltage source between 0V to 5V in
AREF Pin which will be considered as accurate reference voltage.

GND : Ground.

SCK : Serial Clock, which is used by SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface). It is clock generated by
‘Master’ which is used to clock the data to the ‘Slave’.

MOSI : Master Out Slave In, The data is transmitted from Master to Slave. (Master -> Slave)

MISO : Master In Slave Out, The data is transmitted to Master from Slave. (Slave - > Master)

SS : Slave Select, It is used to select the ‘Slave’. Make high to SS pin to deactivate & make low
to activate it.

INT1 & INT0 : These are hardware interrupts, it calls the ISR (Interrupt Service Routine)
when the pin change occurs.

TX : Transmit, It is used to transmit TTL serial data. It is also referred as ‘outwards’ since it
‘transmits’ data from Arduino to other connected peripheral device.

RX : Receive, It is used to receive TTL serial data. IT is also referred as ‘inwards’ since it
‘receives’ data from external hardware to Arduino.

Vin : Voltage In, If you’re powering your Arduino board from USB nothing is obtained from
Vin pin. But, if you’re powering the board with external supply then that supply is directly
obtained from Vin pin. However, the supply obtained at Vin pin is usually lesser by 1V than
voltage supplied to Power pin due to reverse polarity protection diode.

5V Pin : It is used to power external components connected to Arduino which needs 5V.

3.3V Pin : It is used to power external components connected to Arduino which needs 3.3V

IORef : Input Output Voltage Reference, It allows shields connected to Arduino board to
check whether the board is running at 3.3V or 5V.

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