Designing an Embedded Tracking System

[GeekWizard]

Dear all,

I need to make a presentation on what factors to consider in designing a tracking system embedded in the CIT products.

I have googled such systems and also on this board, most of the people suggest a GPS-GSM embedded system i.e. finding the location through a GPS module and transmitting the information through the GSM network.

My questions are:-

- Are there any other such systems availabe on CIT products?
- What factors are important while designing such a system? I can think of (a) Power supply (b) Choice of microcontroller (c) Network security, Any others?

Many Thanks.

 

[MAK-1]

Choose a proper GSM+GPS modem and any of microcontroller with UART & a multiplexer
These are the basic component of a tracker system

 

[GeekWizard]

What about a tracking system based on GSM and an RF beacon rather than GPS?

I read somewhere that it is more accurate - not sure how though ?

 

[wolf69]

MAK is right, the GSM+GPS module and a microconttroller with at least one UART is the core of a traking system. Take a look to Telit modules.
Bye!

Added after 6 minutes:

I don't know too much about this topic but I think that the positioning by GSM RF signal is quite unreliable (very unreliable if there are buildings around). And of course you need a service that give you the position (I think that you don't want to compute the position from the GSM-station map).

 

[eziggurat]

I believe the RF receiver system would cost quite a bit if you want something reliable.