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Tracking GPS, transport logistics systems

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
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Anonymous

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Hi GS guys. This is a post that I put on another group. The gist of it is that I'm trying to learn as much as I can about GPS systems on transports. Any and all input would be appreciated. My goal is to assemble an inexpensive device that would be available to adventure motorcyclists.


I'm doing a bit of research on Transport logistics systems that posts your position on the internet. Is anybody here running one on their bike?
From what I can tell they are a GPS coupled with a cellular phone system. It is possible to buy an out of service 53 foot transport trailer in Canada that has the system for about 3000$CDN. I'm sure you've seen the round white tubs on transports , that's what I'm talking about. They can come with batteries that last 90 days before you need to charge up.

I've looked around a bit and http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031027/sfm005_1.html has a 50 country service. http://www.fleetilla.com/coveragemaps.html has Canada, USA, and Mexico.

My concern is the operating cost of one of these things. Would you pay a flat rate for the service depending on coverage or pay a roaming bill for a cellular phone? Ofcourse a lot of countries won't have the service on every road but it would be pretty good to have a method to send text messages to the internet in many places. Yep, they can send messages both ways via a waterproof keypad or perhaps a crappy old PDA you got for free.
http://www.mlogmag.com/magazine/01/roadrunner.shtml

http://www.mlogmag.com/magazine/01/blackberry.shtml
Hmm, if it could connect to a Blackberry I think world coverage would be possible (and free). Those things use their own satellites don't they?

How about the systems seen in Taxis?

I'll have to go to a truck repair shop some time and see what is available. Can some of you guys check into it too?

This seems like an invaluable system for single travellers. Just pull into a large town anywhere in the world and you can talk back and forth with somebody you have asked to keep an eye on you via the internet.

Something tells me it would be possible to set up a working system for about 1000$CDN if being very frugal. I could probably get one of the GPS things for a case of beer if I went to a local tranport company. They probably buy the used trailers and refurbish them with no intention of using the logistics equipment.

Equipment longevity should not be an issue. Trailers are expected to last ONE MILLION MILES.

http://www.heavydutytrucking.com/2002/11/078a0211.asp
Here's a list of a suppliers as of November 2002. More importantly it shows whether the systems run on cellular or low-earth orbit satellites!

Cheers, Steve
 
My thoughts are evolving quickly. \:D/

How about connecting a blackberry and a GPS receiver? The Blackberry is supposed to be available in 100-140 countries. Does anybody here own one? How does it work with roaming charges? Total build cost would be well under the target of 1 grand.

Considering that the BB uses Java 2 (which I know) I could possibly program it to converse with a GPS on the NMEA 0183 Ver. 2 protocol. Programming would take about a week (maybe a day) as long as the protocol is open source.

I guess I'll have to find another group to hang out on for a while. Any of the other Electrical and Software Engineers on here want to help? :)

Cheers, Steve
 
Steve,
Maybe I'm being a bit thick here, but what are you trying to acheive?
Is it a system where you can keep track of somebodies whereabouts?
 
It would be for tracking my whereabouts. My parents are concerned about my safety when I'm travelling by myself in faraway places. With my gadget I would be able to send them a brief message and location of where I am staying for the night. On top of that I could give them my agenda as it changes. The only other alternatives I am aware of are expensive satellite phones and data connections such as the one discussed here.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/Forum36/HTML/000033.html

Steve
 
There is a system here in the UK that is available (or will be very soon) that tracks your position through your mobile phone.
It is being pushed/advertised/recommended as a way that concerned parents will be able to keep an eye on where their kids are.
I will see if I can find out more about it and let you know.
The general idea is if you want to know where your kids are, their location is revealed by their phone - as long as they have got the phone with them that is!
 
That is pretty cool for somebody like me who wants to be found. I'll be in Central America so cellular phone coverage comes and goes in different areas. The last time I was down there you had to use your credit card to use an out-of-country phone.

I imagine the cell phone systems simply report which antennas the phone had logged into at a particular time. Cell phones are only good for something like 20km (I'm guessing, don't quote me :) ) so there are antennas everywhere. Especially in cities where buildings block the signal.

Thanks for the help though, Steve
 
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