Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Smart GPS Tracker Using Arduino

Parents often worry about their children when they are away from them. Have they safely reached school? Are they alone at home? Or are they at the playground with friends? – these are some of the questions that bothers parents all over the world.  

So, today we are going to make a smart tracker that can keep track of a child. Besides this, the device can also be used to track your vehicle location and other objects. Let’s begin. 

First, collect the following components. 

Components 

  • GPS Module
  • Arduino Nano
  • SIM800L 
  • 2G SIM card 
  • OLED Display
  • Small 3V battery 
  • Wires 

Prerequisites 

First we need to install the libraries ‘Tiny GPS ++’ and ‘FONA’  in Arduino IDE. To do so, go to tools → click on library manager → search the required library → install the library.

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Coding 

In first part of the code, initialise the library in code. Next, create some variables that will store the message, GPS location and other data. Then we define the pins for GPS module and SIM800L module.

After that, we will create the setup function where the baud rate of SIM800L and GPS modules for serial communication are set to 4800 and 9600 respectively. 

Fig 1.
Fig 2.

Here, we have created a loop function to check whether the incoming message has been received by SIM800L or not. If the message has been received, then convert it into a readable string. It will check the message for a ‘get location’ command, after which the collected data (with respect to location) will be sent back to the original device..

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Within the same loop function, a function named get location() will be called .This function will keep updating the GPS data and return the results to the loop function

Fig 3

Connection 

Now connect the components as shown in the pic below:

Fig 4.Connection created in Fritzzing

Testing

Power the device with a battery and wait for a few minutes. The device will then become ready for use. 

Send the message ‘get location’ to the smart device and you will receive a message with the location URL, which you can check on Google Maps.

Fig 5.

Download Source Code

111 COMMENTS

  1. Good evening,
    I have a project for my Baschelor that deals with the same subject and I really need your help. I’m begging you.
    Here’s my email. You can write me so we can exchange ideas.

    I would really appreciate it if you can help me.

    Thank you in advance
    004917687888597 (Watzap)

    Lukas

    • Power on your device and module and let it keep on for more than 6 to 7 hours and also try to get it in open space either in the garden or outside your house if it gets the FIX sat location then the red led start blinking and you will get the location.

  2. Hi! I would like to refer to this project to build a remote gps tracker of our own! I was wondering if this setup/circuit connections would work if I were to use a SIM900A mini GSM module? Also in this project, for what component do you use the 3V battery?

    • Arduino Uno, Nano, Mini all work for this project without changing any single line in code and connection.
      I have used Arduino Uno to test it as a pin connection using Jumper wire is easy. If you need your device looks small and compact you can use nano, mini

  3. Hy,
    I have my final year project on iot , ardiuno . I have to make a gas leakage detector that sense gas and send an email , an alarm system and GpS tracker that give location in email also.
    Can you please guide me which devices will be used in this . Pleaseee

  4. Hi! Thanks a lot!
    I have a question. Can the device share the location automatically without any “get loc” message? Maybe each minute or when it’s turning on? Or when someone press a buttom in the device?
    Regards.

  5. Hi, I did this project at home but it doesn’t works. The red led in SIM module turns on but in the GPS module doesn’t works. All the elements are new and funtional. I check the connections and the code, but it still not working. Can you help me please? Thank you

    • Two way one is to use google Maps API but you need a good microcontroller or SBC like raspberry pi for that. Another one is you can update the location data and transfer using services like a mosquito, Thingspeak, google cloud.

  6. Hello my friend.

    I download your code. I have already connected all the modules in my Arduino Nano, as you show before (Fig. 4). The code uploaded in Arduino. But when i open the Serial Monitor, shown that it find the SIM Module, but i’m getting this error here “No GPS detected: check wiring.”

    Can you help my please?

    Thank you in advance!

  7. Hi, I’m new for making this project. I understand all the codings etc, But one thing i can’t understand is when i use my simcard and put it in to module what simcard im gonna use to get the location? Please reply asap. This is my first project if i understand this this is the good start for me. Thanks

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