Vehicle tracking sounds pretty self-explanatory, right? But there’s more to it than just locating your car, and it’s more complex than you think.
From Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and Bluetooth, there are various methods and technologies that can be used to track the location and status of a vehicle. Whether you’re a fleet manager looking to optimise your operations or a concerned car owner wanting to protect your vehicle, investing in a reliable vehicle tracking system can provide peace of mind and valuable data.
By understanding the different tracking technologies available, you can choose the best solution to meet your specific tracking needs.
Several types of vehicle tracking devices exist. Typically, they are classified as passive and active. Passive devices store GPS location, speed, heading and sometimes a trigger event such as key on/off, door open/closed. Once the vehicle returns to a predetermined point, the device is removed and the data downloaded to a computer for evaluation.
Active devices also collect the same information but usually transmit the data in near-real time via cellular or satellite networks to a data centre or fleet management system for evaluation.
Many modern vehicle tracking devices combine both active and passive tracking abilities: when a cellular network is available and a tracking device is connected it transmits data to a server; when a network is not available the device stores data in internal memory and will transmit stored data to the server later when the network becomes available again.
Fundamentally there are four distinct types of vehicle tracking systems available on the market today. All have various advantages and disadvantages. These systems are:
GPRS is a packet-oriented mobile data service available on 2G and 3G cellular communication systems. It enables continuous tracking of vehicles by utilising cellular networks to transmit data packets, supporting both real-time and periodic data transmission, which is crucial for vehicle-tracking applications.
A typical vehicle-tracking system uses a GPS module to obtain geographic coordinates at regular intervals, which is then transmitted to update the vehicle location to a database. This setup allows for continuous monitoring of the vehicle’s location via a smartphone, computer, or tablet, allowing owners, fleet managers, or parents to monitor their vehicles 24/7.
How it works
Applications in vehicle tracking
Cellular technology for vehicle tracking uses mobile phone networks (such as GSM, Long-term Evolution (LTE), and 5G) to transmit location and other vehicle-related data. This technology leverages the extensive coverage of mobile networks to provide reliable tracking services.
How it works
Applications in vehicle tracking
RFID technology uses radio waves to identify and track objects, including vehicles. RFID systems consist of tags attached to the vehicles and readers that communicate with the tags to retrieve information.
How it works
Applications in vehicle tracking
Bluetooth technology facilitates short-range wireless communication between devices. In vehicle tracking, Bluetooth can be used to connect tracking devices with smartphones or other Bluetooth-enabled devices for data exchange.
How it works
Applications in vehicle tracking
Each of these technologies – GPRS, Cellular, RFID, and Bluetooth – play a unique role in vehicle tracking, offering distinct advantages and applications. GPRS and Cellular technologies are integral for real-time and remote tracking, providing continuous data transmission over wide areas. RFID excels in access control and theft prevention, especially in confined spaces. Bluetooth offers low-energy, short-range tracking, making it ideal for proximity-based applications and supplementary tracking.
By understanding the functionalities and applications of these tracking technologies, fleet telematics providers and consumers can make informed decisions to enhance their fleet management capabilities.