GPS repeaters have been used for several years to provide GPS tracking signals inside of man-made structures such as buildings, parking structures, and tunnels. Due to the signal attenuation caused by construction materials or natural structures, the satellite based Global Positioning System (GPS) can lose significant power indoors affecting the coverage for receivers. In addition, multiple reflections at some surfaces (usually metallic) can cause multi-path propagation which can result in additional location related errors or 'null spots'. Repeater systems can help by providing strong GPS signals to areas that would not normally be capable of receiving the necessary signals for location tracking. The GPS repeater system operates by using an antenna with a good view of the sky cabled to a repeater, usually inside the structure, which then re-radiates the selected signals inside of the building or structure using a separate antenna. For complicated internal structures, multiple repeaters may be needed. For vehicle tracking systems, GPS repeaters are typically used with vehicles or assets that are stored indoors - such as fire trucks, construction equipment, and ambulances. The use of the repeater is two fold: the repeater system allows the GPS tracking systems on the vehicles to stay locked with a relatively strong signal while inside the building, so that after leaving the building the GPS will not be required to re-acquire the GPS signal, which can take several minutes for a moving vehicle - resulting in a potential loss of location data. Secondly, this prevents a weak GPS signal, caused by the building or structure, from causing invalid position reports to occur from the tracking devices on the vehicles as the GPS/GNSS constellation changes above the devices. This same repeater system can be used to help track hand-held GPS devices such as smartphones inside of large indoor structures, such as malls - though the placement of the repeaters requires that a radio propagation coverage analysis assessment be conducted in order to make sure there is ubiquitous coverage inside the structure under a variety of potentially changing conditions. This repeater system can also be used to help track important assets inside the structure, even if they only leave the structure infrequently - and combined with wireless systems using software that provide geofencing capabilities, an alarm can be sent out when the device leaves the indoor perimeter of the location it is being stored at. Keep in mind that the size of the geofence should include some margin for error caused by GPS drift, which can occur even with the repeater generating a relatively strong signal; so that false alarms are not generated by changes in the satellite constellation that provide less than optimum GPS signal coverage. Since GPS repeaters are a transmitting device, they are covered by local regulatory agencies such as the FCC in the US; and if used must be done so as to comply with local regulations.
The first satellite for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) successfully launched on Monday. Solar panel deployment was confirmed and the satellite has power and is operating nominally according to reports. The IRNSS-1A satellite is the first of seven that will make up the IRNSS. The constellation will consist of four satellites in geosynchronous orbits inclined at 29 degrees, with three more in geostationary orbit. IRNSS-1A is one of the geosynchronous satellites, and is expected to be positioned at a longitude of 55 degrees east. Earlier in June the India Space Research Organization Navigation Center (ISRO) was inaugurated in Byalalu Bangalore. The launch had initially been scheduled for June 12th, but was postponed for a 'technical snag' (an anomaly in one electro-hydraulic control actuator) in the 2nd stage. The successful launch and satellite deployment stands in strong contrast to the Proton-M rocket failure that was slated to launch three GLONASS navigation satellites by Russia yesterday.
A Russian Proton-M rocket carrying three GLONASS navigation satellites crashed about 17 seconds after liftoff today from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome, reports rt.com (Russia Today) and gpsworld.com. About ten seconds after takeoff at 02:38 GMT, the rocket swerved, began to correct, but then veered in the opposite direction. It then flew horizontally and started to come apart with its engines in full thrust. Making an arc in the air, the rocket plummeted to Earth and exploded on impact close to another launch pad used for Proton commercial launches. The crash was broadcast live across Russia. Fears of a possible toxic fuel leak immediately surfaced following the incident, but no such leak has been confirmed, rt.com reports. The rocket was initially carrying more than 600 tons of toxic propellants.
No casualties or damage to surroundings structures or the town of Baikonur have been reported. An accident board headed by Aleksandr Lopatin, deputy head of Russia’s space agency Roskosmos, has been created to investigate the crash. Further Proton-M launches have been suspended until the end of the accident investigation. The failed launch has potentially cost the Russian Space industry around $200M.
Yesterday began the new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements for Hours of Service (HOS). Though the new regulations are being contested, the courts did not stop them before they took effect. One of the most contentious mandates of the new rules requires "34-hour restarts" - which requires more rest for drivers, in order to help reduce accidents and tighten up safety standards. Part§395.15of the new regulation talks about AOBRD systems as a possible alternative to part 395.8 regarding the driver's record of duty status. AOBRD systemsare defined by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) as follows: "Automatic on-board recording device means an electric, electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical device capable of recording driver's duty status information accurately and automatically as required by. The device must be integrally synchronized with specific operations of the commercial motor vehicle in which it is installed. At a minimum, the device must record engine use, road speed, miles driven, the date, and time of day". The AOBRD system as defined, is very similar to the EOBR device definition and requirement that is wending it's way through the Federal bureaucracy It has moved from the FMCSA to the DOT Secretary last month, on it's way to the White House Office of Management and Budget. It's expected to go into effect in October or November of this year unless it it sent back to the DOT and FMCSA for changes. The prior rule was struck down in 2011. Even if this new (EOBR/ELD) rule goes into effect in November, the full implementation isn't expected to go into effect till 2015.
Keep in mind, that the current 39.15 HOS regulations regarding AOBRD functionality are optional, and can even be rescinded by the FMCSA, as outlined in the current rules. If implemented it also doesn't change or bypass the HOS rules that the driver must conform to - it's just another way of maintaining the required driving logs. Several providers of tracking systems, AOBRD and Electronic On-Board Recorder (EOBR) or Electronic Logging Device (ELD) systems appear to be jumping the gun, indicating that these systems are now mandated - when that is not the case. Carriers should be careful about purchasing any new equipment that indicates it complies with these standards, as the standards may yet change - especially if the system locks the carrier into equipment and services over the next several years. It could put the carrier in a precarious position if the equipment doesn't end up meeting changing standards that may yet be required in 2015. We are advising patience and caution till the rules are accepted (or rejected) in Q4 of this year.
In an article from MIT Technology Review, the indication is that “vehicle-to-vehicle communications” could soon be synonymous with technology that makes driving safer, less
polluting, and is potentially less antagonistic. They indicate that Michigan's Transportation Research Institute will be providing demos to showcase how future vehicles can exchange information - including their position, direction, and speed - with other similarly equipped vehicles, as well as roadside equipment such as traffic lights and tollbooths. One of the largest ever real-world vehicle-to-vehicle experiments involving 2,800 vehicles, many belonging to ordinary drivers who have volunteered to take part, has been under way in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the past 10 months. Each vehicle in the project, including 60 trucks, 85 transit buses, and some motorcycles and bicycles, is fitted with a transmitter and receiver capable of sending and receiving signals over a distance of about 300 meters. The equipment uses a specialized version of WiFi, called 802.11p or WAVE, which operates in a dedicated radio frequency in the 5.9-gigahertz range and was designed specifically for communications from moving vehicles. Some participating drivers received dashboard alerts, offering a glimpse of how the technology may eventually work. These participants were shown a warning if, for example, another driver several cars ahead applied the brakes suddenly, or if their on-board computer noticed another car approaching an intersection ahead at a speed that could potentially cause a collision. The primary thrust of the technology is to improve safety. European car manufacturers are working on a similar Car2Car system (in English V2V). Both systems would be used for various functions such as automated speed monitoring, speed limit warnings, or pull over commands from law enforcement. Some features are similar to those described in an earlier post regarding the Internet of Things - such as being used for toll and parking payments, traffic management (including accommodating police, fire, and ambulance), driver assistance, and support for automated driving systems. Toward the end of the year, the Department of Transportation (DOT) will decide whether to mandate that future cars include some sort of vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology or to leave it to the market.
If your fleet of vehicles consists of light duty commercial vehicles, or passenger vehicles - then you might want to consider an OBDII GPS tracking device. They are simple to install, which for large fleets of vehicles can make deployment quick and simple - and because of the integrated antennas, they're relatively tamper resistant.
Some items to consider:
Employ a device with an internal battery. This makes the device difficult to disable, and it can continue to track for several hours, or possibly days as long as the device is still in the vehicle. You can even track yourself on foot for short periods of time by pocketing the device.
Utilize an extension cable if the installation of the device makes it prone to the driver hitting it, or causes it to stand out in any way.
Be sure that the tracking interface includes the availability of a WebApp, so that the vehicle can be tracked using any smartphone.
The devices are easy to install; however that means they can easily be removed as well. If you want the ability to track the vehicle more covertly, or with some dedicated IO capabilities, then a more traditional 'black box' device may be in order.
Easy to install and uninstall also means that it's easy to move between vehicles if needed - which may include the need to track the employee's vehicle (which they may be using on behalf of their employer) or a rental car or van, or for fleets of leased vehicles where black-box installation isn't practical.
The location of the integrated GPS antenna isn't optimal. Many locations for the device are under the steering column, and this can be adequate for 'reasonable' tracking needs in many cases - but if the vehicle is being driven in areas where the view of the sky is consistently compromised, consider a 'black box' device with an external antenna.
OBDII interfaces in the USA do not typically include features such as remote starting, remote alarming, window control, lock control, vehicle disabling or speed throttling, etc. Interfaces of this sort are prohibited by most vehicle manufacturers, and if employed can potentially void the vehicle's warranty. However, the device, if properly installed and operational (and within an adequate wireless coverage area), can provide real-time vehicle location and recovery services, as well as driver safety and behavior assessment; and future upgrades to more advanced technology will be easy to implement or swap out - or to move between vehicles as needed.
Fleet tracking systems can be a boon for companies or government entities that are trying to save money for their organization. These types of systems provide the efficiency as well as the oversight that can allow an organization to tighten their fleet related spending - which can be used to lower their overall budget, or to help to prevent severe cost reductions in other critical areas of the organization. One major issue is how to come up with funding to invest in a cost savings system like vehicle tracking when income is actively being reduced. Here are some ideas:
Incremental system roll-out. Purchasing the entire system at once will help to lower costs quickly, but if you can't do that with your current budget, install units on an incremental basis - using savings from the prior installs to help fund further installs until you have the system in place on your entire fleet.
Leasing. Leasing a vehicle tracking system can usually defray some of the major up-front costs for a few months - enough to get the savings needed and the return on investment moving forward so that overall cash-flow is only impacted for a short period of time - a couple of months as opposed to years of protracted budgetary shortfalls.
Use a hosted solution. While enterprise systems can be more cost effective over the long run for large fleets, the initial outlay may not be feasible in times when budgets are being tightened. Even for fairly large systems, the savings of a hosted vehicle tracking system can help to pay for itself, and to create head-room on cash-flow within a few months. Once the savings of a hosted system is in place an enterprise system can be easier to justify, putting in place the self-hosted system that will create even higher long-term savings.
Pilot systems. Keep in mind that fallow times provide good timing for system pilots, demos, analyzing actual return on investment (ROI), defining specific requirements, etc. Even if you can't afford a system right now, these efforts can help make for a stronger financial case later when competition for funding isn't as high.
The return on investment of a fleet tracking system for an organization varies based on the fleet size, the type of fleet vehicle, the average monthly mileage of the vehicle, and other factors such as if employees have access to the vehicles after hours, gas prices, etc. Even so, the return on investment can generally approach $60USD a month per vehicle - after the costs for the equipment and services have been deducted. For a fleet of 500 vehicles, this can create an additional monthly cost savings of $30,000USD, or a yearly savings of $360,000USD. In some cases, the additional productivity that a vehicle tracking system provides can actually provide a significant boost to income not including the monthly cost savings; depending on the organization's business model.
For vehicle tracking systems, GPS repeaters are typically used with vehicles or assets that are stored indoors - such as fire trucks, construction equipment, and ambulances. The use of the repeater is two fold: the repeater system allows the GPS tracking systems on the vehicles to stay locked with a relatively strong signal while inside the building, so that after leaving the building the GPS will not be required to re-acquire the GPS signal, which can take several minutes for a moving vehicle - resulting in a potential loss of location data.
Secondly, this prevents a weak GPS signal, caused by the building or structure, from causing invalid position reports to occur from the tracking devices on the vehicles as the GPS/GNSS constellation changes above the devices.
This same repeater system can be used to help track hand-held GPS devices such as smartphones inside of large indoor structures, such as malls - though the placement of the repeaters requires that a radio propagation coverage analysis assessment be conducted in order to make sure there is ubiquitous coverage inside the structure under a variety of potentially changing conditions. 
