Preview: GPS Tracking Service w/ GPS output for your CarPC

Mrbmw99 · 07-11-2006, 10:37 PM

We are looking into building a device and service that will allow users to track their vehicles through a web-based interface. Any constructive input is welcome!

The outer aluminum case will be 3"x4.5"x1.5", with power (+12vdc, IGN), CDMA Antenna, GPS Antenna and an RS-232 connector on it. The RS-232 will allow the high quality internal GPS device to be used for the CarPC navigation systems so you will not have to use an additional GPS receiver in the vehicle. The device will run on Verizon's CDMA network.

The customer will be able to log into our website and view the current location of any of their vehicles, including speed, IGN status, direction, etc. The device's settings can be changed through the website, including the timing between updates for when the vehicle is either on or off.

Monthly service fees would be ~$21.00/mo, depending greatly on how often the unit is sending updates. The GPS and modem unit will be ~$425.00, and will be owned by the customer to do with as they wish. Future models will have remote vehicle diagnostics, voice and/or I/O capabilities for use with sensing alarm conditions and sending remote truck/door unlocks and locks. Imagine when you are sitting at home on the computer late at night and you are not sure if you remembered to lock your car - a few clicks and it's done! Forgot your keys in the car? Log on or call and have it unlocked within minutes! The device will be built to be easily installed by the customer.

For comparison:
L()Jack: $695 for the unit, which does not use GPS, only direction-finding radio equipment (not very precise). Not all PD's have receivers.
()n5tar: Available only on newer GM vehicles, not available as an add-on to existing vehicles.

Development time ~4 months, are you interested?

Mrcat88 · 07-14-2006, 10:37 PM

yes, to a point. 500.00 is alot to spend initially just to track. The more valuable the car, the more valuable this service.

Of course, with gas going up, I think alot less people will spend that kind of money on a system like this.

WebVantagePoint · 07-19-2006, 10:10 AM

I think it is a great idea. But the price seems a little high. But if it would be running all the time wouldnt it drain your battery? I know it wouldnt drain a lot but how much time would you have? I have thought about doing something like this for my car since i use a system like this at work. But we use a sattalite link for communications and there is also a system that uses a radio for communications that i use. And how secure would this be? I dont know how secure the CDMA network is? To make it worth the price you would have the extra features that you mentioned but if its not secure then its a waist of time. just my 2 cents

brett

Mrbmw99 · 07-22-2006, 08:13 PM

Thanks for the replies!

Progress: After doing more research on the materials and hardware required for this project, I am esimating it be < $400.00 total. Regarding the battery question, the idea is to have this unit be capable of sensing the battery's voltage and determining when it's too low and cease operation. Even then, when the vehicle is off the unit should only be updating between ~10mins to X many hrs. Settings like this will be selectable in the user's online account, but overall it shouldn't take too much juice. The data for this device will be securely encrypted between it and the server. The only person allowed to access the location of the vehicle is the owner (unless they create a sub account for someone else). I know I personally would not even think of using a unit that was not secure in protecting my location from other people or if the data could be falsified.

Any other thoughts?

Thx,
Brett W

BDVirus · 07-22-2006, 09:23 PM

i like the idea, but i dont think that its the best idea to force everybody to use your website/cingular cdma

I think you should add it as an option, but instead of doing a website do a program (or btr yet offer 2 options one with CDMA the other w/o that the user has to hook up to their pc and use their own wan service).

Also right now i think this would be more of a niche type item (based on gas, and all that type stuff)... dosnt seem like ppl are spending alot on services like this (unless they have an expensive car OR alot of money sunk into it in aftermarket stuff.... which would be the niche market).

i would like to have a GPS system using my car pc that could transfer stuff over the net, however im gonna be getting a evdo card and would prefer to be able to use my own service to track and such.

If you did develop this whole thing as an all in one solution, i think you should sell software app to do this also. I would be willing to pay $50-75 for an app that allowed me to use my own GPS/evdo connection and all that to track it. also alot of people already have gps, so they wouldnt want to spend $400 more on another, but they would prolly agree with me that they would possibally buy software to allow them to do it on their own (for the software make it where you install on one pc to act as a server, then another install for the client).

just my $.02

liquid_smoke · 07-23-2006, 03:17 AM

seems like a good idea, but like everyone else said the price is a bit high, even 400bucks (call me cheap). Especially considering the DIY nature of many of the users found on this board, i would assume i could do it myself for a lot cheaper and bypass a monthy fee also.

I dont think the software idea is that practicle though. Although a cheaper solution but not one i want to trust if someone stole my car. Chances are, if the car is stolen everything valuable is getting ripped out so kiss the pc good bye along with the tracking. But a small stand alone unit that can be carefully hidden, possibly under/inside the dash or similar would be better as the person stealing the car isnt gonna rip the car apart unless it being chopped up. And even if found, if its designed carefully the person likely wont know what the hell the device is and just toss it aside or leave it alone. I would try to design it to look like an oem auto part.

The software idea is a good idea though also, just not for tracking protection. I would use that for novelty or something for the family car that you loan out to your kids etc. Is my daughter really going out with her girlfriends or is she sneaking to see that lowlife boy i forbid her to see again? Not that im that type of parent, but they are out there.

If you could somehow come up with 2 products that roughly do the same thing just for different target users, with a smaller price tag it would be much more attractive.