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Personal Trackers
| Applications | |
|---|---|
| Title | Personal Trackers |
| Author(s) | Rui Barradas Pereira. |
| Level | Basic |
| Year of Publication | 2011 |
The GNSS personal tracking is a product feature which allows any person to locate another person, object or animal through the use of a device attached on the tracked person or object that transmits information to the GNSS satellite network.
The person trackers are an emerging trend, partially spread by the popular Smartphones with built-in GPS that can be used to locate a person with a relative lower cost. Some of the of the most common motivation for individual tracking products include the well care of small children and elderly relatives.
The electronic ankle bracelets are an example of personal tracking products, meant to control prison populations, house arrests or protecting newborn infants in hospital nurseries, among several other uses.
Product Description
The GNSS personal tracking devices transmit the location data to GNSS satellite network allowing to have a world wide tracking coverage. Each GNSS personal device emits its own unique signal which can be identified by a system of codes [1] and coordinates. Using these coordinates the devices precise location can be retrieved.
There are a number of reasons for GPS tracking such as the location of individuals who get lost in outdoor activities, safety of children, elderly relatives or Parkinson patients.
Usually, the tracking device is acquired as a service and is monitored by the location provider via GPRS (cell phone) transmission technology, allowing the service to know always the child precise location. This location is provided to the parents through cell phone, or provider's website means [2].
Some devices give the possibility to monitor, not only the position data, but they can also include time, velocity, or even monitor heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure, for children with health problems and special needs. Another feature available is the definition of a geofence, i.e., areas where the presence of the child is tolerable, without an alert is arisen. In case the child trespasses outside the established zone, the device automatically begins the tracking and alerts the parents either via an alarm on their receiver, or via cell phone from the location service provider using GPRS technology[2].
Some of these tracking equipments also own a "panic" button on the child's device, allowing the child to interact with the system in such situations where the child feel hurt, ill, lost, or scared. He or she simply pushes the button and the parents are informed via GPRS (cell phone) transmission technology, or via the provider's website[2]. This information can also be transmitted from the device, to an emergency hotline.
These products are considered as non-critical products.
The accuracy required by these applications is low. The current accuracy provided by civilian GPS is enough for these applications. Availability, however, can be reduced due to urban environments.
Product Characterization
The cost of these products has droped considerably in recent years, offering the possibility of mass consumption by the average citizen. Aligned with this, the devices had demonstrated to be very useful in children location. The tracking systems provide a GNSS device to be placed on the child, and either a receiver for the parent or a website where the parent can trace the child's general location.
Besides the cost of the device, usually there is a monthly subscription fee, similar to the way cellular phone service operates [2]. Parents need to take into account the behaviors personalities and habits of their own children before choosing the suitable equipment. Some child tracking devices combine the Assisted GPS (A-GPS) technology, to permit the children tracing in indoor environments.
Tracking systems, have an enormous potential for fields other than persons tracking, such as pets tracking, wildlife, law enforcement or theft prevention, among others. The Electronic Bracelets product is an example of this sort of systems and can be applied for both persons or animals depending of the tracking objectives.
Detailed information about Electronic Bracelets can be found here.
Personal tracker products have potential utilization in crime control issues, like for instance for the following situations:
- Law enforcement: this is the concept of keep tracking of a suspect, usually by addressing a GNSS device in vehicle, in order to verify the suspect activities in a control room, preventing the police members to expose to much and saving investigation resources.
- Theft prevention: this is the concept of keep tracking of companies assets using a geofence. These systems arise an alert to the police forces once the tracked asset trespasses the control zone.
Product Examples
The children tracking devices appear in several shapes and sizes, such as a wristwatch, a necklace, and GPS devices placed in book bags, shoes, and clothing.
Usually the personal tracker are small standalone devices, but can also be found embedded in cell phones.
Manufactures like Garmin or Bushnell have their own personal locator devices[3]:
Other companies with devices that fit in this category are the following[4]:
Companies like Locationnow provide services which integrate the tracking devices with GSM/GPRS based applications.
Notes