RFID Vehicle Tracking

Jason Alcock (Team Leader)Pat WoowongHarold Allen

Emmanuel DeheerFarzaneh Shahheidari

Project Advisors:Jay SchlagLinda Milor

PDR Presentation: October 25th, 2007

Technical Approach Integrated RFID and GPS vehicle

monitoring unit

Designed for Universities and Dealerships.

Priced at $7000

Projected budget on track

Device Layout•RFID Reader

Serial interface Only active RFID tags read Receives incoming tag information

•GPS Unit Serial Interface Longitude/Latitude coordinates updated when unit moves

•Display USB Interface Two-way communication between user and Ebox

•Ebox PC USB, Serial, VGA 10/100 Ethernet for data download Flash memory storage contains operating system and database

EBOX

Display

RFID ReaderGPS Unit

Serial

Serial

USB

Basic Software Flowchart

Pair current GPS location with tag

info

Search database for valid

information

Display relevant tag information of oldest vehicle on linked list

Wait for incoming tag data

Store paired data in a linked list

Valid?Yes

No

Mark Tag for Violation

Embedded ProcessorICOP eBox-2300 Vortex86 200MHz

System-on-Chip 3x USB v1.1ports 2x RS-232 serial

ports Windows CE OS

Source: www.embeddedpc.net

RFID Reader

R500-SP long range RFID reader Proprietary RS-232 serial interface Active RFID tags Typical 20-30 foot range

Source: www.RFIDusa.com

RFID Serial Interface

Proprietary undocumented Serial interface

Connected to PC and logged serial data

Used included demo program to sniff byte pattern

Concluded important byte data for implementation

GPS Unit

Pharos iGPS-500 WAAS capable GPS

unit Better than 3

meter accuracy Unit outputs TTL

level serial output Must create cable

to interface with RS-232 connection

Source: http://www.msh-tools.com/GBA/gbagps.html

LCD Interface

Matrix Orbital GLK19264-7T-1U-USB-GW Serial graphic LCD with seven buttons Virtual serial port over USB connection

Source: www.MatrixOrbital.com

Prototype Demonstration

Base Unit Target Vehicle

Ebox LCD Panel

RFID Reader

GPS Unit

RFID Tag Affixed to Vehicle

Successful Testing

VIN: J3425HK5896

Location: EW 96

Match? No! Ticket!

20 foot radius

Transmitted signals from RFID tag.

Mobile Base Unit

LCD Display

Effects of Problems on Cost

• Wrong GPS unit was not compatible with e-Box• Additional GPS unit increased the overall development cost of project by increasing:

• Part cost • Labor cost

Previously Calculated Development Cost

(Non-recurring Cost) Parts 1,247Labor 12,083

Total$25,34

4

Development Cost (Non-recurring Cost) with Additional

$100 for GPS unit Parts 1,347Labor 13,483Total $28,211

Future Tasks and Schedule• 11/8 - Compilation of a working RFID program for the e-Box controller

• 11/12 - Development of software program to parse a text document containing RFID tag information

• 11/12 - Development of code to interface the LCD display

• 11/18 - Assembly of base unit

• 11/18 - Inclusion of appropriate power supply system into base unit

Summary

Problems addressed:

• Serial vs USB GPS system

• Active vs Passive RFID

• Individual power vs Single power supply

• Handheld vs Vehicle mounted unit

“It is always appropriate to end a presentation with a quote to allow the audience to digest everything before a question and answer period”

-Michael Laughter

October 2007