Constructing Arduino based mostly GPS Tracker

Now we have designed an Arduino based mostly GPS Tracker utilizing the NEO-6M GPS Module.

A GPS (world positioning system) tracker utilises satellite tv for pc alerts to precisely decide the placement of an object or individual in actual time. Initially developed by america Division of Protection for army functions, GPS know-how has develop into extensively accessible for civilian use.

GPS trackers encompass {hardware} and software program elements that work collectively to obtain alerts from GPS satellites, calculate exact coordinates, and transmit this data to a central server or person gadget.

They’re generally utilized in varied industries comparable to transportation, logistics, fleet administration, private security, and asset monitoring. GPS trackers could be put in in automobiles, smartphones, wearable units, or hooked up to property to watch their motion, location, and different related knowledge.

Lately, the widespread availability of GPS monitoring know-how has led to its adoption in consumer-oriented functions as nicely.

– Commercial –

Right here, this Arduino based mostly GPS tracker is designed to be put in in robots and automobiles and programmed in accordance with the wants of individuals. The writer’s prototype is proven in Fig. 1. The elements required to construct this tracker are listed in Invoice of Supplies desk. Major elements used on this tracker are proven in Fig. 2.

Arduino Board

The Arduino Uno is among the hottest microcontroller boards within the Arduino line-up. It’s based mostly on the ATmega328P microcontroller and supplies a easy and accessible platform for electronics fanatics, hobbyists, and professionals to create interactive tasks.

The guts of the Arduino Uno is the ATmega328P microcontroller, which is accountable for executing this system and controlling the venture. It has 14 digital enter/output pins. It runs at 16MHz clock pace and has a USB connection, permitting the code to be uploaded from the pc to the board and communicated with.

– Commercial –

The NEO-6M GPS Module

It’s a compact, low-cost GPS receiver module extensively utilized in varied digital functions that require correct positioning and timing data. An introduction to the NEO-6M GPS module together with its specs could be seen in Fig. 3.

Arduino and NEO-6M GPS Module Connection

Fig. 4 exhibits the circuit diagram of the Arduino based mostly GPS tracker. It’s constructed across the Arduino Uno (MOD1) and NEO-6M GPS module (MOD2). Pins D2 and D3 of the Arduino Uno board are linked to pins 2 (RX) and three (TX) of the NEO-6M GPS module, respectively.

Because the GPS module works on the serial peripherals, it may be hooked up to any software program or {hardware} pin on Arduino. Right here, on this design, the software program serial pin is used.

The GPS module is powered with the Arduino 5V pin and GND pin, and Arduino is powered from USB on Arduino.

Code for Arduino based mostly GPS Tracker

The code is created in Arduino IDE. The GPS offers serial knowledge so, right here the SoftwareSerial library has been used. Set the RX and TX pins for the SoftwareSerial interface. The baud charge is about as 9600, and subsequent, the information is dumped to the serial port to be seen on the serial monitor display.

The uploaded supply code could be seen on the serial monitor. Fig. 5 exhibits the uncooked knowledge code snippet.

The information stream could be noticed by opening he serial port. One of many strains may appear to be: $GPGGA,123519,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.9,M,,*47 On this instance, $GPGGA is the prefix indicating the kind of knowledge (on this case, world positioning system fixes the information).

The following fields comprise data comparable to time (123519), latitude (4807.038 N), longitude (01131.000 E), variety of satellites in view (08), altitude (545.4 metres), and so forth.

To decode NMEA sentences in Arduino, libraries like TinyGPS can be utilized. We simply noticed a fundamental instance of how TinyGPS may be used to decode a NMEA sentence. Fig. 6 exhibits the ultimate code’s snippet.

On this code, the TinyGPS library is used to decode NMEA sentences acquired from the GPS module by way of SoftwareSerial. Contained in the loop() perform, characters are constantly learn from the GPS module’s serial interface and handed to the gps.encode() perform.

When a whole NMEA sentence is acquired and efficiently decoded, the latitude and longitude are extracted utilizing gps.f_get_position() and printed to the serial monitor.

Testing Arduino Location Tracker

After importing the supply code into the Arduino board and interconnecting the Arduino Uno and NEO-6M module, the circuit is able to use. Now energy the module and open the serial monitor. The placement could be mapped in latitude and longitude.

Copy the latitude and longitude to Google Maps to view the placement on maps. Fig. 7 exhibits the serial monitor exhibiting GPS knowledge.

Rajesh Rathakrishnan is an embedded specialist with a ardour for know-how in IoT. He holds a level in Bachelor of Engineering and has written extensively on matters starting from embedded wi-fi IoT to cloud applied sciences.