Accurate Vehicle Location System Using RFID, an Internet of Things Approach

Area of Science:

• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Internet of Things

Background:

• Dense urban infrastructure and underground tunnels obstruct Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, hindering accurate vehicle positioning.
• Existing vehicle tracking systems often rely on GPS, limiting their effectiveness in signal-deprived environments.
• The Internet of Things (IoT) offers potential for integrating diverse technologies to solve specific challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement an accurate vehicle location system.
• To overcome the limitations of GPS signal obstruction in modern infrastructure.
• To facilitate autonomous vehicle tracking in areas with no GPS availability.

Main Methods:

• Integration of Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology with existing GPS and Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) technologies.
• Design and implementation of a novel RFID transponder.
• Literature study on Internet of Things (IoT) and technology integration strategies.

Main Results:

• A functional vehicle location system combining RFID, GPS, and GSM was designed, implemented, and field-tested.
• An RFID transponder achieved a read range of approximately 31 cm in the low-frequency band (125 kHz to 134 kHz).
• Antenna size was identified as a critical factor influencing the communication range of the RFID system.

Conclusions:

• The proposed RFID-based system effectively enables accurate vehicle location and tracking, even when GPS signals are unavailable.
• The integration of RFID technology provides a viable solution for autonomous vehicle tracking in challenging environments.
• Further optimization of antenna design can enhance the performance and communication range of the RFID location system.