All about Using IoT to Empower Vehicle Tracking System
Internet of Things (IoT) is no longer a new term that needs an introduction. It is the means of connecting physical devices to one another over the internet for various purposes. These devices may be anything like a tube light, fridge, bag, car, TV, book, or anything you can name. The scalability, adaptability, and flexibility of IoT can be owed to this property of being able to be used with the wide variety of devices.
IoT is being used in many cases, and one such case is the tracking of a fleet in the logistics industry. A mobile app development company can develop IoT devices empowered vehicle tracking system (VTS) to provide an implementable and economical solution to the logistics industry.
IoT and VTS
Though IoT can work using various technologies such as Bluetooth low energy (BLE), Wi-Fi direct, Radio-frequency identification (RFID), low energy wireless IP networks, Z-wave, ZigBee, and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) advance. However, the VTS is currently using three main technologies:
- RFID: It aids in the control and tracking of products.
- Global Positioning System (GPS): It obtains real-time information of routes.
- Onboard diagnostics (OBD II): It acquires information related to the maintenance of the vehicle and driving conditions.
GPS is not new for vehicle tracking
Even before IoT devices came to the fore, GPS was around, and now the data from GPS is being used to track the movement of a vehicle in real time by quickly transmitting data to a host over a mobile data connection. The addition of IoT to VTS has given a fresh breath of life to VTS. This has certainly made vehicle tracking much more automated, reliable, efficient, and economical.
Additional features added to VTS through IoT
A lot of additional parameters can now be tracked using IoT devices and sensors. This adds to the transparency and operational efficiency of the vehicles. These features/ functionalities include:
- Driver authentication and identification
- Alerts of driver behaviour, lazing and stopping time, over speeding, route deviations, harsh acceleration, cornering, or braking
- Continuous temperature monitoring
- Fuel monitoring and real-time alerts for refuelling and fuel theft
- Continuous load monitoring of vehicle
- RFID/ Biometric integration
- Trip scheduling and notifications of departure and delivery
- Calculation of mileage, distance travelled, time is taken, and turnaround time
- History of records and reports and routes taken by vehicles
Working off a typical IoT-based VTS
Using sensors on the vehicle, including GPS and OBD II sensors, the location data of the vehicle is collected and sent to the local gateway over a mobile data connection periodically as the vehicle moves. This information is sent to a network server and collected. After this, the data is stored in the secure application server in the cloud which sends reports and alerts related to the vehicle to the driver’s or supervisor’s mobile.
Advantages of IoT in VTS
IoT helps in increasing cost efficiency and productivity and creating new revenue schemes and opportunities. This is achieved as IoT performs four main functions of monitoring, controlling, optimising, and automating. In case of VTS, these can be exemplified as below:
- Communication becomes faster and easier with the use of new IoT tools, like in-vehicle streaming cameras, driver mobile apps, etc.
- By providing notifications and alerts, IoT makes scheduling, effective routing, chauffeur and truck tracking, and freight management much more effective.
- Third-party APIs for reporting the traffic, assisting in parking, checking average speed, monitoring driving etiquettes, etc. is supported by IoT.
- It is easy and convenient for logistic companies to track their daily operations and fleet anywhere, anytime, and on any device through the cloud.
- Fleet management companies can use the collective data from IoT devices for getting valuable insights into driver behaviour, over speeding, law-defying acts of the driver, etc.
- Total costs can be decreased by optimal use of resources and performance enhanced with the proper use of IoT.
- Rapid decisions and prompt improvements can be facilitated by the availability, sharability, and readiness to act on real-time information obtained using IoT devices.
Closing words
Safety and security of assets is a priority for logistics companies. So, every company needs to monitor their vehicles that may be venturing in different directions and different localities. The evolution of technology with time has led to the development of criminal minds in parallel. In order to beat these criminal activities, it is important to use more enhanced tools for preventing both the disabling or overriding of vehicle security by upgrading existing security. This upgradation involves the addition of features for detecting and in a way preventing suspicious activities in and around the vehicle. IoT technology provides this upgradation to VTS.
An IoT based VTS is much more efficient than the traditional VTS. But as IoT technology is still evolving and VTS providers are finding newer ways to make the best use of this technology, IoT trends for future will turn out to be the lifeline of the VTS industry. So, what are you waiting for? Upgrade your VTS apps with IoT technology without any further delay.
