DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this thesis, submitted to University Malaysia Sabah as partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic
Engineering, has not been submitted to any other university for any degree. I also
certify that the work described herein is entirely my own, except for the quotations and
summaries sources of which have been duly acknowledged.

This thesis may be made available within the university library and may be
photocopied or loaned to other libraries for the purpose of consultation.

………..………………………

23 Januari 2018 Nurul Anis Binti Ahmad

CERTIFIED BY

……………………………………………

Dr. Khairul Anuar Mohamad

SUPERVISOR

ii
NAME : NURUL ANIS BINTI AHMAD

MATRIC NO. : BK12110284

TITLE : VEHICLE TRACKING SYSTEM USING AN ARDUINO

DEGREE : DEGREE OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC

ENGINEERING

VIVA DATE : 23 JANUARI 2018

CERTIFIED BY

1. SUPERVISOR

Supervisor’s Name Signature

DR. KHAIRUL ANUAR MOHAMAD ………………………………

iii
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all those who provided me the
possibility to complete this final year project. A special gratitude I give to my final year
project supervisor, Dr. Khairul Anuar Mohamad, whose contribution in suggestions and
encouragement, helped me to coordinate my project especially in writing this final year
report.

I owe my deepest gratitude to my parents and family who support me

throughout all my studies at University Malaysia Sabah. Their financial and spiritual
support which assisting me in all the costs and expense during this study is very
important. Without their concerns and supports, I may not be able to manage
everything well. They always care and make sure that I can do well in study.

Last but not least, many thanks to all the lecturers, especially to IR.Pungut
Ibrahim and MR. Liau Chung Fan whose have give me an advices and encouragement
to improved my final year project and study. The positive attitude that I have learned
from them have helped me in overcoming the obstacles I face.

Finally, I would like to thanks all my beloved friends and course mate who have
helped and supported me along this project progress and contributed in this project.

iv
 ABSTRACT

According to Persatuan Insurans Awam Malaysia (PIAM), Malaysia is among the

top countries with the highest vehicles theft cases in the world, which a total number
of vehicles stolen in 2016 are 11796 units. This occurs due to the lack of vehicle
security system. To prevent the theft vehicle, we proposed the Vehicle Tracking
System (VTS) using an Arduino to track the vehicle location. The developed system
makes use of an embedded system based on Global System for Mobile Communication
(GSM) and Global Positioning System. This project can be divided into two main parts
which are hardware and software development. The software development includes
develop the microcontroller’s source code and GSM command, meanwhile the
hardware development includes the microcontroller and integration with GPS GSM
module. The GSM system is used to send the position of the vehicle location through
SMS. The GPS system that uses satellite technology for its navigation system will
provide information such as precision location based on longitude and latitude. The
system is connected to mobile through Google Map link, which allow the exact location
and position of the vehicle to be updated in terms of latitude and longitude via SMS to
the user. Thus, the tracking system is an integration of two systems which is
coordinated by the GPS receiver controller and controlled by a user using command
interfaces through the GSM as a transmitter and receiver of data. In order to show the
feasibility and effectivesness of the system, this work presents a successful testing
results of the vehicle tracking system to ensures the safety and surveillance.

v
 ABSTRAK

Menurut Persatuan Insurans Awam Malaysia (PIAM), Malaysia adalah antara negara
tertinggi di dunia bagi kes kecurian kenderaan, iaitu jumlah kenderaan yang dicuri
pada tahun 2016 adalah sebanyak 11796 unit. Hal ini berlaku adalah disebabkn
kelemahan dari segi siste keselamatan kenderaan itu sendiri. Untuk mengelakkan
jumlah kes kecurian daripada terus meningkat, peranti pengesan lokasi kenderaan ini
direka menggunakan mikropengawal, Arduino ATmega328. Peranti yang direka ini
menggunakan sistem Global untuk Komunikasi Mudah Alih (GSM) dan sistem Penentu
kedudukan Global (GPS). Projek ini dibahagikan kepada dua bahagian utama iaitu
elektronik dan pengaturcaraan. Pengaturcaraan adalah termasuk algorithma untuk
mikropengawal dan GSM, manakala elektronik adalah mikropengawal dan modul GPS –
GSM. Sistem GSM digunakan untuk menghantar lokasi kenderaan melalui khidmat
pesanan ringkas (SMS). Sistem GPS menggunakan teknologi satelit untuk sistem
navigasinya akan memberi maklumat seperti ketepatan lokasi berdasarkan bujur dan
garis lintang. Sistem ini dihubungkan ke telefon mudah alih melalui pautan Google
Map, yang membolehkan lokasi dan lokasi sebenar kenderaan dikemas kini dai segi
latitud dan longitude melalui SMS kepada pengguna. Oleh itu, sistem pengesan ini
adalah integrasi dua sistem yang diselaraskan oleh pengawal penerima GPS dan
dikawal oleh penguna menggunakan arahan antara muka melalui GSM sebagai
pemancar dan penerima data. Untuk menunjukkan kebarangkalian dan keberkesanan
sistem, thesis ini membentangkan hasil ujian yang Berjaya dalam sistem pengesan
kenderaan untuk memastikan keselamatan dan pengawasan yang lebih ketat.

vi
 LIST OF CONTENTS

Page

Title i

Declaration ii

Acknowledgement iv

Abstract v

Abstract vi

List of Contents vii

List of Table xi

List of Figure xii

List of Abbreviation xvi

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Project Background 1

1.2 Problem Statement 2

1.3 Objective 3

1.4 Scope of Work 3

1.5 Thesis Outline 4

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Overview 5

2.2 Local Tracking System 6

vii
 2.2.1. Wi-Fi (Wireless-Fidelity) 6

2.2.2 RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) 6

2.2.3 Bluetooth 7

2.3 Application of Local Tracking System 7

2.3.1. Wi-Fi Positioning System 8

2.3.2 People Tracking using RFID Technology 8

2.3.3 GPS – GSM Bluetooth Enabled Tracking 8

2.4 Global Tracking System 9

2.4.1. Global Positioning System (GPS) 9

2.4.2 A – GPS 10

2.4.3 Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) 11

2.5 Application of Tracking System 12

2.5.1 Agricultural Monitoring System 12

2.5.2 People Tracking System 12

2.5.3. A – GPS Based Elderly Tracking System 13

2.6 Vehicle Tracking System 15

2.6.1 A hybrid GPS-GSM localization of vehicles Tracking System 15

2.6.2 Design of GPS and GSM based tracking system 16

viii
 2.6.3 Design and Implementation of Remote Monitoring System

Based on GSM 16

2.6.4 Vehicle Tracking System Using GPS 17

2.6.5 Design and Implementation of Vehicle Tracking

System Using GPS 17

2.7 Summary 19

CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY

3.1 Overview 20

3.2 Methodology Flow Chart 21

3.3 System Development 22

3.4 Arduino Microcontroller 24

3.4.1 Microcontroller ATmega328 25

3.4.2 Arduino Software 26

3.5 GSM/GPS MODEM SIM808 27

3.6 Display Unit 27

3.7 Signal Conversion 29

3.8 Development of Algorithm 30

3.9 Simulation of Hardware development 33

3.10 Summary 34

ix
CHAPTER 4 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Overview 35

4.2 Algorithm 36

4.3 Circuit Simulation 40

4.4 Prototype Installation and Testing 42

4.4.1. Prototype Installation 42

4.4.2 Short Message Service (SMS) 43

4.4.3 Performance Test Procedure 45

4.4.4 Precision of Coordinates 60

4.4.5 Error in Mapping 61

4.5 Performance Test Discussion 62

4.6 Summary 63

CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION

5.1 Overview 64

5.2 Contribution to the literature. 64

5.3 Limitations 65

5.4 Future Works 66

5.5 Conclusion 67

LIST OF REFERENCES

APPENDICES

x
 LIST OF TABLE

Table No. Page

Table 2.1: Summarize the comparison between tracking system in various fields 12

Table 2.1: Summarize the comparison between vehicles tracking system 16

Table 3.1: Function of LCD main part 29

Table 3.2: MAX232 characteristics 30

Table 3.3: AT Command for GPS and GSM modem 30

Table 3.4: Arduino programming language Command 31

Table 4.1: Result from the testing of the prototype 59

Table 4.2: Decimal place of coordinates 60

xi
 LIST OF FIGURE

Page
Figure 2.1: The segments of Global Positioning System (GPS) 10

Figure 2.2: The System architecture of vehicle tracking system. 15

Figure 3.1: The hardware and software design for Vehicle Tracking S 21

Figure 3.2: The proposed vehicle tracking system layout. 22

Figure 3.3: Tracking device installed on a motorcycle 22

Figure 3.4: System architecture of vehicle tracking system. 23

Figure 3.5: Overall system Block diagram of the project 24

Figure 3.6: IC ATmega328 24

Figure 3.7: Arduino Software Interface 26

Figure 3.8: GSM/GPS modem SIM808. 27

Figure 3.9: Liquid crystal display 28

Figure 3.10: Diagram of Liquid crystal display 28

Figure 3.11: MAX 232 29

Figure 3.12: Proteus Software 33

xii
Figure 3.13: Circuit diagram of the vehicle tracking system 34

Figure 4.1: Flowchart for track the vehicle location 36

Figure 4.2: AT command used for send and receive SMS 37

Figure 4.3: If else command used for user number configuration 37

Figure 4.4: While loop and if..else command used for GSM connecting 38

Figure 4.5: Coding for receiving message from user 38

Figure 4.6: Plot receiver’s data on the Google Map 39

Figure 4.7: Circuit of vehicle tracking system 40

Figure 4.8: Prototype installed in motorcycle 42

Figure 4.9: Google map link receive from the module 43

Figure 4.10: Vehicle location on the Google map application 44

Figure 4.11: Circuit when connecting to GSM 44

Figure 4.12: Module in user mode 45

Figure 4.13: Module in theft mode 45

Figure 4.14: Mapping location between Engineering Faculty,

UMS and Kolej Kediaman Kg. E. 46

Figure 4.15: Coordinates values of vehicle from Engineering Faculty, UMS 46

xiii
Figure 4.16: Mapping location between Diner, Sulaman and Kolej Kediaman
Kg. E. 47

Figure 4.17: Coordinates values vehicle from Engineering Diner, Sulaman 47

Figure 4.18: Mapping location between Seven Eleven, Indah Permai and
Kolej Kediaman Kg. E 48

Figure 4.19: Coordinates values of vehicle from Seven Eleven, Indah Permai 48

Figure 4.20: Mapping location between Polytechnic Kota Kinabalu and

Kolej Kediaman Kg. E 49

Figure 4.21: Coordinates values of vehicle from Polytechnic Kota Kinabalu 49

Figure 4.22: Mapping location between Giant, Puterajaya and
Kolej Kediaman Kg. E 50

Figure 4.23: Coordinates values of vehicle from Giant, Puterajaya. 50

Figure 4.24: Mapping location between Bus Stop, Telipok Lama and
Kolej Kediaman Kg. E. 51

Figure 4.25: Coordinates values of vehicle from Bus Stop, Telipok Lama. 51

Figure 4.26: Mapping location between Petronas Station, Tuaran and

Kolej Kediaman Kg. E. 52

Figure 4.27: Coordinates values of vehicle from Petronas Station, Tuaran 52

Figure 4.28: Mapping location between Berunggis roundabout, Tuaran

and Kolej Kediaman Kg. E 53

xiv
Figure 4.29: Coordinates values of vehicle from Berunggis roundabout 53

Figure 4.30: Mapping location between The Upside Down House, Tamparuli and
Kolej Kediaman Kg. E. 54

Figure 4.31: Coordinates values of vehicle from The Upside Down House,
Tamparuli 54

Figure 4.32: Mapping location between Tamparuli roundabout and

Kolej Kediaman Kg. E. 55

Figure 4.33: Coordinates values of vehicle from Tamparuli roundabout 55

Figure 4.34: Mapping location between Lok Kawi Height and

Kolej Kediaman Kg. E 56

Figure 4.35: Coordinates values of vehicle from Lok Kawi Height 56

Figure 4.36: Mapping location between Lahad Datu and Kolej Kediaman Kg. E 57

Figure 4.37: User location at Lahad Datu 57

Figure 4.38: Vehicle Location at Kolej Kediaman Kg.E, UMS 58

Figure 4.39: Coordinates values of vehicle from Lahad Datu. 58

Figure 4.40: Error in mapping vehicle location 61

Figure 4.41: Actual coordinates of vehicle location 61

xv
 LIST OF ABBREVIATION

AGPS Assisted Global Positioning System

AT ATtension

GPS Global Positioning System

GSM Global System for Mobile Communication

NMEA National Marine Electronic Association

RF Radio Frequency

RFID Radio Frequency Identification

SIM Subscriber Identify Module

SMS Send Message Service

TDMA Time Division Multiple Access

USB Universal Serial Bus

WI-FI Wireless Fidelity

CDMA Code Division Multiple Access

xvi