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Vehicle Tracking System by Using GPS, GSM, and Arduino Technology

Conference Paper · January 2022

DOI: 10.24086/cocos2022/paper.833

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4th International Conference on Communication Engineering and Computer Science (CIC-COCOS’2022) 157

Vehicle Tracking System by Using GPS, GSM,

and Arduino Technology
Firas Muhammad Zeki Mahmood
Department of Informatics and Software Engineering, Cihan University-Erbil
Kurdistan Region – Iraq

Abstract- The fleet system uses a very well-established technology affects other pieces of technology that are made for it. There is
called the vehicle tracking system, the fleet system is the owner of an automatic return reply to the mobile indicating the vehicle’s
the automobile and vehicle movement of goods around the globe, position in latitude and longitude terms following the request of
this technology is very reliable and safe. There’s a proposition of a a user. There has been a developed program used for the
real-time tracking system in this paper and it’s going to create a
system that can be used for positioning and tracking of any vehicle
locating of a vehicle’s exact position and navigating a moving
by using Global System for Mobile communication and Satellite vehicle [1]. There is tracking that can be allowed anywhere at
navigation system (Global positioning system). This system is any time regarding the target, under any weather conditions. It
designed as an application and will continuously indicate the status is user-friendly, installable very easily, accessible, and used for
of the vehicle by monitoring its movement on demand. The device a variety of purposes [2]. Vehicle tracking systems are useful
used for tracking to know the vehicle’s location in real-time is and essential for the tracking of a car that its owner monitors.
made up of the SIM900A module, Arduino Uno R3, and NEO 6M Nowadays it is a popular move for people with expensive cars.
GPS module. For accomplishing this the Arduino Uno R3 has to It is an anti-theft car that helps recover a stolen car [8][9]. The
be serially interfaced with the GPS and GSM modules. For technology of it is known as Vehicle Tracking Systems and has
reporting the location of the vehicle continuously from a remote
place the GSM module is used, while the other GPS module is
ensured the security of many vehicles. The hardware that is
continuously updating the Arduino of data such as latitude, speed, fitted into it sends location data from the system embedded
longitude, and distance traveled by using the satellite. For viewing within it to find the location, following a vehicle theft [10].
the position of the vehicle on the map Google Map is used. By using After the request of a user, the GPS coordinates are sent to the
the application the user can send a message of a number that is specified mobile that made the request, providing the user with
registered on the GSM that’s attached to the Arduino, by doing latitude and longitude terms through a Google Maps link [11].
this. The user will be able to receive information like longitude,
google map lining of the vehicle, and latitude by a text message. II. System procedure
This proposal contains vehicle security, salesman tracking, and
private drivers. The vehicle’s tracking system project’s circuit connection is
quite simple. The GPS module’s Tx pin has a direct connection
Index Terms— Vehicle Tracking, Arduino, GPS, GSM, and to Arduino’s PIN 8 and the Rx pin has a connection to
Satellite. Arduino’s PIN 9. There have been serial communication
allowed on pins 8 and 9, through the use of Software Serial
Library, and turned them into Rx and Tx. Pins 0 and 1 are used
I. Introduction by default by the Software Serial library for serial
communication, allowing more communication on Arduino’s
GSM, which stands for Global System for Mobile other digital pins. For the Arduino’s GPS Module to be
Communication, and GPS, which stands for Global Positioning powered, a 3.3 Volt supply is used. The Tx and Rx pins in the
System is based on the location and tracking system of a GSM module have a connection to the Arduino’s digital
vehicle, also the real-time location of the vehicles, the mapping, numbers 6 and 7. Again, through Software Serial Library, there
and reporting of their information value. The upper the services has been room for serial communication on pins 6 and 7 to Rx
provided by the above mentioned. The design of the GPS-based and Tx respectively. An external 12V supply powers the GSM
vehicle tracking system is for the specific location of vehicles module. There are LCD optional data pins, D4, D5, D6, and D7,
and the intimating of the position of SMS [3]. A GPS modem which connect to Arduino’s PINs 5, 4, 3, and 2. The Arduino’s
is included which retrieves the vehicle location in longitude and PINs 12 and 11 are connected to the command pins RS and EN
latitude terms. There is a geographic position used along with of the LCD, with the RW pin being directly connected to the
time information by the GPS [4]. There is an onboard module ground. The contrast and brightness of LCD are set through A
within the system residing in a tracked vehicle alongside a Potentiometer.
station monitoring data from a variety of vehicles. There is a
GPS receiver and a GSM modem within the onboard module III. Connecting GSM Module to Arduino
[5]. How the hardware is placed makes it invisible. The system
continuously sends the data of the location to the monitoring Two ways connect the GSM module and Arduino, in both of
unit, used as a cover unit. The location is used for information which is a serial communication between the Arduino and the
distribution to the police if the vehicle is stolen [6] [7]. That GSM module. There is a need to use serial pins of Arduino,

DOI: http://doi.org/10.24086/cocos2022/paper.833
 4th International Conference on Communication Engineering and Computer Science (CIC-COCOS’2022) 158

Rx, and Tx. Following that method, the Tx Arduino pin may 2. Connection of D9 on the shield to the A5 pin in the
be connected to the GSM module, and then the Rx pin of the Arduino. See fig. 3.
GSM module to the Tx of the Arduino. 3. Pin D9 of Arduino made HIGH for a round of 5 seconds by
the software. This is as if when press the power button.
The ground Arduino pin then better be connected to the GSM
ground pin Module [12]. That concludes three connections,
finalizing the wiring. This results in a load of various programs
that communicate with the GSM module, making it functional.
There is a problem regarding this, that when programming the
Arduino, it uses serial ports for the loading program of the
Arduino IDE. In case of those pins being used in wiring, there
won’t be a successful load to Arduino. Therefore, there is a need
for Rx and Tx wire disconnection with every program burned
to the Arduino [13].
After the successful load of the program, the pins can be
Fig. 2: R1 and R3 connections
reconnected and the system begins to work. For that difficulty
to be avoided, there is an alternative method used, where two
digital Arduino pins are used for serial communication. There
is a need for the use of two PWM-enabled Arduino pins. There
is a decision made for pins 6 and 7 to be used, which are PWM-
enabled pins. The method can be carried out by the Arduino’s
Software Serial Library.
The Software Serial is a library of Arduino that allows the
communication of serial data through various other Arduino
pins. There is a presentation of the circuit diagram below, that
connects the GSM module and Arduino, using the circuit for
the sending and receiving of Arduino and GSM modems. See
fig.1.

Fig. 3: D9 and A5 connection to Arduino [11].

V. Booting the GSM Module

1. Insert and lock the SIM card to the GSM module (ensure
that the SIM card has no PIN lock).
2. When connecting the adapter to the GSM module, turn it
ON (it must be auto started)
3. Wait for approximately a minute and check the blinking
rate of the “status LED” or the “network LED”. The GSM
module takes a bit longer to reach the connection with the
phone mobile network.
4. With successful connection establishment, there will be
continuous blinking of the status/network LED every 3
seconds. It could attempt to make a call to the mobile number
of the GSM module’s sim card, sending and receiving SMSs.

VI. GSM Module AT Commands

AT Commands can interface GSM Module. Below are some

Fig. 1: System Procedure [14].
GSM AT commands. See Table I.
IV. Automatically turn on GSM shield
TABLE I
Although before, turning the shield on was a non-automatic act, GSM AT commands
instead of a manual turn now there is an automatic press of the AT Command Description
Power key that turns on the shield see fig 2. The process is as Handshaking with
AT
follows: SIM900
1. R1 and R3 connected to the shield and soldered. AT+CMGS=PHONE_NUMBER (in Send SMS to the
international format) number

DOI: http://doi.org/10.24086/cocos2022/paper.833
 4th International Conference on Communication Engineering and Computer Science (CIC-COCOS’2022) 159

Set the SIM900 to

AT+CMGF=1\r
text mode
ATDP+ PHONE_NUMBER (in VIII. Connecting LCD Module to Arduino
Call the number
international format)
Read the second
AT+CMGR=1\r SMS from the The following pins need to be connected for the LCD to be
inbox connected to the Arduino board [16]. fig.5:
Read the second - LCD VSS pin to the ground.
AT+CMGR=2\r SMS from the - LCD VDD pin to a +5v power.
inbox - LCD V0 pin to an output of variable resistor
- LCD RS (Register Select) pin to an Arduino digital pin 12
Receive an
ATA - LCD RW (Read/Write) pin to a ground
incoming call
- LCD E (Enable) pin to an Arduino digital pin 11
ATH Hang up a call
- LCD D4 pin to an Arduino digital pin 5
Check SIM
- LCD D5 pin to an Arduino digital pin 4
AT+CREG? registration in the
- LCD D6 pin to an Arduino digital pin 3
network
- LCD D7 pin to an Arduino digital pin 2
Read SIM - LCD A (Anode) pin to a +5v power
AT+CCID information to - LCD K (Cathode) to the Ground then connect with a resistor
confirm plugging in series have 220-ohm.
AT+CSQ Signal quality test

VII. Connecting GPS Module with Arduino

The NEO-6M GPS module is made of four pins: VCC, RX, TX,
and GND [15]. The Arduino and the module communicate
through serial communication with the TX and RX pins, See
Table 2, the wire connections show in fig 4.

TABLE II
Connecting GPS Module with Arduino
NEO-6M GPS Module Wiring to Arduino UNO
GND GND
Fig. 5: LCD connection with Arduino
VCC 5V
TX pin defined in the
TX
software serial IX. Connections of all system
RX pin defined in the
RX
software serial Final connections of all of the subsystems. See figs 6 and 7.

Fig. 6: Connections of the system

Fig. 4: Connecting GPS Module with Arduino

DOI: http://doi.org/10.24086/cocos2022/paper.833
 4th International Conference on Communication Engineering and Computer Science (CIC-COCOS’2022) 160

Conclusion
There will be better fleet management with a vehicle tracking
system which in turn results in a larger profit, better route, and
schedule planning can result in better time management which
can result in the person being able to handle more and larger
jobs in less time. Vehicle tracking can be beneficial in both
business and personal situations as it can increase security,
communication medium, productivity, safety, and performance
monitoring.
This system can play a major role in the day-to-day lives of
people in the next few years, this paper can present an efficient
real-time vehicle tracking system that can be customized,
flexible and accurate. This is done by using GSM, GPS, and
GPRS networks that are suited for a variety of applications all
around the globe. By combining both GPRS and GPS we can
be provided with real-time continuous tracking, Google map
API is used for displaying the position on google map.
The brain of the GSM module and the system is the Arduino
Fig. 7: Picture of connections of the system and the GSM is controlled by AT commands that allow
transmission of data to the GSM module, meanwhile, the GPS
X. Design and place in Vehicle is providing the data about the location. When GPS receives
new data the database gets updated which is why it will be able
The components of the project that are hardware must be to see the new location on google maps, when it comes to
hidden, they’re either put beside the car engine or under the vehicle tracking the system can provide information about the
hoods, there are two different ways for providing the hardware location of the vehicle like the altitude, speed, latitude,
components with power, either by connecting them to the car satellites, course, and date.
battery or providing an external battery [17]. As the results of the industrial devices, the outcomes of the
system are also good, for the future by using actuators and
sensors a wide variety of services can be added to the system,
XI. Results any work that is put into this project in the future is to
1. The Tracking process can be done while want to incorporate differently sensors into the system that can decrease
detect the current location of the vehicle at any time the possibility of vehicle lose.
by sending an SMS (not every SMS, only the defined
SMS). Then
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DOI: http://doi.org/10.24086/cocos2022/paper.833
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