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International Journal of Technical Research and Applications e-ISSN: 2320-8163,
www.ijtra.com Volume 4, Issue 1 (January-February, 2016), PP. 114-119
114 | P a g e
VEHICLE MONITORING CONTROLLING AND
TRACKING SYSTEM BY USING ANDROID
APPLICATION
Arunthavanathan Rajeevan1, Navod K Payagala2
1Lecturer, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Malabe, Sri Lanka. Email:,
2Undergraduate student, Faculty of Engineering and Construction, International College of Business and
Technology, Sri Lanka.
1rajeevan_a@live.co.uk
2nkpayagala@gmail.com
Abstract— Integrated engineering is a latest trend
to solve problems. To be able to design a product
using an integrated technology will be beneficial to
any engineering problems and a huge contribution
to the community. This paper presents the design
and implementation of vehicle tracking, vehicle
function (such as door locks, parking lights)
monitoring, controlling and vehicle status (status
about the engine, door and temperature)
notification at anywhere by using mobile phone
applications. The design system consists of Sensor-
actuator module and communication module to
acquire the input signals and control the vehicle
functions and monitor the vehicle by using GPS
and Android mobile phones. A dedicated portable
affordable cost and flexible vehicle tracking,
function monitoring and controller implemented
catered with automobile, electronic and mobile
technologies. To demonstrate the feasibility and
effectiveness of the proposed system, vehicle door,
parking lights and side mirrors are monitored and
controlled by the mobile phone along with vehicle
tracking by using Google map and status
notification for vehicle engine, temperature and
door have been implemented and evaluated with
vehicle.
Index: Sensor actuator module communication
module, GPS, GSM
I. INTRODUCTION
Every year thousands of vehicles are stolen in the
roads and unsecured car park. Sometimes, steals try
to steel the vehicle parts by opening doors or
breaking glass. Because of this people are afraid to
park the vehicles in the road or unknown car parks.
To avoid this problem many designs and techniques
have been designed and implemented in the
vehicles. However designing a vehicle security
system and interfacing the monitoring by the
owners mobile phone will be the absolute solution
for the current situation and the need.
II. METHODOLOGY
In vehicle monitoring and controlling system:
sensor-actuator module and communication module
used monitor and control the vehicle.
Sensor – Actuator Module: This module directly
connected to the vehicle to acquire the input signals
from vehicle to and control the relevant functions
by through the actuators. This
module design and implemented by using vehicle
sensors such as limit switch, reed switches, shock
sensor and actuators such as relays. PIC
International Journal of Technical Research and Applications e-ISSN: 2320-8163,
www.ijtra.com Volume 4, Issue 1 (January-February, 2016), PP. 114-119
115 | P a g e
microcontroller used as a controller in the module to
interface the sensors and actuators.
Communication module: This module designed by
interfacing GPS and GSM units with
microcontroller via USART protocol. In the module
GPS technology used to track the vehicle positions
and GSM technology used to communicate between
the mobile phone and the communication module.
Radio Frequency (RF) technology used to
interconnect both the modules; therefor modules
can place it in to the vehicle separately and
anywhere in the vehicle. Communication unit
design and implemented in a smaller size and this
will able to hide the module inside the vehicle for
more security. PIC microcontroller used as a
controller in communication modules due to cheap
cost and easy interface with GSM and GPS units.
Mobile Application: An android application used
as a main interface between user and the mobile
phone. Password protection is being used in the
application to only allow authorised users from
accessing the mobile phone. Modules are powered
by vehicle power supply and backup batteries. A
relay is used to switch the vehicle power supply to
backup battery; therefore if vehicle supply is
removed, still system can work through backup
battery for a limited time.
III. MODULE DESIGN
PIC microcontrollers are used to design both the
modules. PIC16F876A microcontroller used in the
design of sensor-actuator module and
PIC18F45K22 microcontroller used in the design of
communication unit.
Sensor – Actuator module Design
PIC 16F876 interface with relays to actuate the
vehicle control and microcontroller interface with
temperature sensor, reed sensor, limit switches and
vibration sensor to monitor the vehicle.
Interfacing relays with PIC microcontrollers:
Relays are widely used in automobile used to
control or switch high voltage and current path by
using small voltage. As well as it provides complete
isolation between the main circuit and the
automobile devices. Relays cannot be directly
connected with microcontrollers due to fly back
current. In order to interface relay to
microcontroller relay driver circuit used, it basically
contain a BC547 transistor as a switch. As well as
there is a 4.7K Ω resistor and 1N4148 diode. 4.7KΩ
resistor is used as current limiting resistor for the
transistor. And the diode is used for block fly back
current from the relay. Therefore it helps to protect
the transistor, from fly-back current of the relay.
Interfacing temperature sensor with PIC
microcontrollers: To acquire vehicle temperature
by using owners mobile phone LM35 temperature
sensor interface with PIC. LM35 is liner
temperature sensor and generate analogue output
voltage level according to the temperature.
Figure 1: System block diagram
Interfacing vibration sensor with PIC
microcontroller: In sensor-actuator module
International Journal of Technical Research and Applications e-ISSN: 2320-8163,
www.ijtra.com Volume 4, Issue 1 (January-February, 2016), PP. 114-119
116 | P a g e
vibration sensor used to detect the external
disturbances to the vehicle. The internal resistance
of the sensor changed according to the vibration or
shock. The changes in the resistance are very small
and therefore it cannot be directly connect to the
microcontroller. Signal conditioning circuit used to
control the signal; this circuit consist of single
operational amplifier based comparator. The normal
internal resistance of the vibration sensor is about
10kΩ, therefore is directly connected to the
inverting terminal of the operational amplifier and
with 10 kΩ resistor and a variable resistor is
connected with non-inverting terminal for change
the sensitivity of the sensor. The output of the
circuit is always high and when the sensors get
vibration the output will change to low.
Interfacing reed switches and limit switches with
PIC microcontrollers: Reed switches and limit
switches are used to acquire emergency inputs to
the systems. Basically reed switch is simple
ON/OFF switch, which is operated by magnetic
force. Normally opened reed switches are used to
detect if someone tries to pull the door handle and
these reed switches are mounted inside the moving
parts of the door handle with a permanent magnet.
Therefore when the door handle is pulled by
someone, the reed switch gets closed. That signal is
fed to the microcontroller. Reed switches are
connected with the microcontroller by using pull
down resistor for the signal is low at normal time.
Limit switches are used to detect whether a doors
are opened or closed. In general, limit switches are
in built in every vehicle these signals can be directly
used to interface with microcontroller.
Figure 2: Sensor –actuator module
Interfacing opto-isolators with PIC
microcontrollers for input signals: Using the
vehicle monitoring and controller, user canget more
information about their vehicle and the vehicle
functions works according to the inputs from the
vehicle. Normally vehicle electronic systems design
with 12V signalling or controller. Therefore those
signals cannot be directly connected to the
microcontroller, in order to get those signals to
microcontroller optical isolation is used. PC817
Opto-isolator is used to isolate microcontroller with
12V systems.
Communication module design
Interfacing GSM module with the microcontroller:
Communication between system and the mobile
phone is an important part of the design. GSM
module is used to provide the communication path.
The selected TC35i GSM module is manufactured
by Siemens and the module can be connected with
PIC microcontroller via serial communication. But
the GSM module works with RS-232 logic level
signals. Therefore MAX232 voltage level
converting circuit interconnect between the module
and the microcontroller to transfer the CMOS to
TTL logic. GSM module is controlled by the
microcontroller using stranded AT commands.
Generally AT commands are used to control GSM
and fax devices by other connected devices.
International Journal of Technical Research and Applications e-ISSN: 2320-8163,
www.ijtra.com Volume 4, Issue 1 (January-February, 2016), PP. 114-119
117 | P a g e
Interfacing GPS module with the microcontroller:
GPS module is used to get position information of
the vehicle by using satellite GPS data. This GPS
module provides NMEA formatted GPS data
according to the GPS signals from satellites.
“Fastrax UP 501” GPS module is used as the GPS
module in the design. The selected GPS module
connected with PIC microcontrollers via serial port
(UART) and it produces NMEA formatted GPS
data in every 1 second. There are different format
in NMEA GPS formats of GPS data, such as
$GPBOD, GPFSI, $GPGSV, $GPGGA, $GPVPW.
In the design, $GPGGA GPS data format is
selected. $GPGGA is known as Global positioning
system fix data. Basically it consists of many GPS
based data. Such as time, latitude, longitude,
numbers of satellites are in view, altitude
Example $GPGGA data is given bellow.
Latitude and longitude directly from the above GPS
data cannot be used for find location from any
online map application such as Google maps.
Therefore the data must be rearranging and
calculated.
The latitude and longitude calculation,
Latitude = 6.842438
Longitude = 79.946355
Geographical coordinates for from above data =
6.842438, 79.946355
Now these coordinates are ready to enter any online
map application for see the location. This
calculation is done by program in the
PIC18F45K22.
Power supply unit for communication module:
Voltage regulator based small power supply unit
designed to supply power for communication
module. Communication module of the system has
been designed for powered directly from vehicle
main power supply (vehicle battery) and backup
battery. A relay is used to switch to between vehicle
power and backup battery power. When the system
is powered by vehicle power the relay is activated
and all circuit is powered by vehicle power and
normally closed path of the relay is connected with
the backup battery. Therefore if someone removed
the vehicle battery, the system still can keep
running from backup battery power. In the design
two LM7805 voltage regulator are used for regulate
12V voltage to 5V voltage to supply both the
modules.
Interfacing RF module with the microcontroller:
433 MHz carrier frequency RF module is used to
communicate between sensor-actuator module and
communication module of the system. These
modules use SPI communication to communicate
with PIC microcontroller. Therefore SPI clock
signal, SPI data in and SPI data out used in the
communication. As well as module uses 433 MHz
as communications carrier frequency.
International Journal of Technical Research and Applications e-ISSN: 2320-8163,
www.ijtra.com Volume 4, Issue 1 (January-February, 2016), PP. 114-119
118 | P a g e
Figure 3: Communication module
IV. RESULTS
Sensor-actuator module and communication module
was design and tested. Android mobile application
designed using eclipse Android Development Tools,
and interface with communication module by using
GSM. Communication module controls the vehicle
function by using sensor-actuator module.
Screenshot “A” shows the login screen of the
application, in this screen user should enter the SIM
card number which is installed in the security
system.
Vehicle tracking, function monitoring and control
tested by designed android application Figure 3,
shown the application tested process.
Figure 4: Android Application for vehicle tracking monitoring and controlling
Main menu of the control and monitoring shown in screenshot
B, by clicking the relevant button user can control the vehicle
features by using communication and sensor-actuator module.
When the user presses the status button the application screen
will be changed into the status screen which is shown in
screenshot C in figure. In this screen when user clicks update
button this application requests the status data from the
sensor-actuator module. Once the status has been received by
SMS via communication module mobile application screen
will be refreshed with new status.
Tracking the position of the vehicle is the most important part
of this system. Screenshot D shows the screen which is used to
see the location of the vehicle. By using communication
module GPS will locate the vehicle location and send the
coordinates by using SMS.
The develop system design to activate the emergency alert.
Sensor-actuator system in the vehicle sends the alert
commands to the mobile phone when system acquire reed
sensor, vibrator sensor or limit switch signal. If one of those
command received by the mobile application it will pop up an
emergency alert screen on the mobile phone and play warning
sound until user clicks the ignore button on the particular
emergency alert screens.
Figure 5 : Emergency alert
V. CONCLUSION
This paper discusses the complete solution for monitoring and
controlling the vehicle functions by using sensor actuator
module, communication module and android application.
Designed system also can track the vehicle by using GPS and
monitored by using android application via communication
module.
Vehicle function monitored by using sensor-actuator modules.
If any emergencies module will send the alert signal to the
android application and alert the user.
By using android application user can control the vehicle
engine, side mirror and doors via communication module and
sensor-actuator module.
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www.ijtra.com Volume 4, Issue 1 (January-February, 2016), PP. 114-119
119 | P a g e
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