How does a GPS car locator work?

The beginnings of GPS (Global Positioning System) date back to the 1960s with a navigation system called OMEGA. Later, in the 1980s, the US Department of Defense launched GPS, a system that allows locating the position of any person, vehicle, etc.

This GPS system would have an accuracy of just a few centimeters, a system that works 24/7, anywhere in the world, and even in extreme weather conditions causing its use to begin to spread globally.

At present, GPS units are a device that is already part of the majority of vehicles in the world as it is extended by its use as a GPS navigation system for vehicles showing routes to drivers.

How does a GPS locator work?

At present, the GPS system is made up of 24 satellites that by a system known as trilateration allows us to know the location of an object or person based on “using the known locations of two or more reference points, and the distance measured between the subject and each reference point ”to determine the precise location of a point on a two-dimensional plane we will need at least 3 reference points.

For this, satellites are used to circulate around the earth in pre-established orbits and transmit the signal information to the earth. As we discussed, a GPS must be connected to at least three satellites to be able to calculate a 2D position (latitude and longitude) as well as its movement.

With more satellites, the 3D position (latitude, longitude, and altitude) can be determined. Likewise, once the position is located, the car locator can offer us information related to speed, course, distance traveled, start time, end time, something that, together with technologies such as telematics, will lead us into intelligent mobility.

The way these GPS systems work is based “on the transmission of a signal emitted by the satellite that is received by the receiving device. The satellite, once the signal is emitted, will measure the time it takes for the signals to return to it ”and thus be able to determine the precise location of the object.

How do you use a GPS Control system?

Today, GPS systems are part of a wide variety of mobile devices such as smartwatches, wearables, tablets, computers, or car trackers.

The popularity of GPS devices is due to their use as map navigation systems for drivers to guide drivers during their routes and help them reach their desired destination.

Although this is the most widespread use of GPS units among the general population, they have also managed to have a leadership position in the field of transport since, thanks to telematics, they have become an essential tool in the management of vehicle fleets.

And it is that the fleet management systems combine the monitoring and location of vehicles with the collection of performance data of the equipment to be able to analyze the daily operations and improve essential areas such as safety, energy efficiency, or productivity.

Next, we are going to dig a little deeper to know the evolution that GPS has undergone thanks to fleet management technology:

More than a few points on a map
Telematics uses Vehicle Tracking devices to record the location and diagnostic information of vehicles. All this information is transmitted through networks via cellular or satellite.

The intelligent platform of a fleet management system interprets this information and, automatically, updates the vehicle tracking information that is displayed, almost in real-time, in the desktop and mobile applications, having better visibility of your entire fleet and company.

With the help of telematics, you can access the location and status of your vehicles on a live map, in real near time. Monitor how the workday is developing and respond quickly in the event of any eventuality and accident to send help to your mobile team.

Telematics: beyond vehicles

As we mentioned, GPS and Telematics are much more than geolocated points on a map. With this smart technology, you have access to valuable information on fleet performance, vehicle conditions, driving style, fuel consumption, idle times, vehicle activity, and analysis of less efficient areas. that require improvement.

View job progress and analyze daily fleet performance. Identifying the least efficient areas over time and helping improve day-to-day fleet operations, helping drive a safer fleet and work environment is a reality thanks to this type of technology.

As strategic aspects as increasing productivity, reducing fuel consumption, minimizing CO2 emissions, and ensuring that your fleet is one step ahead of your competitors.

At the top of smart mobility

The new paradigm of what is known as smart mobility is based on rethinking transport with the help of technology to achieve safer mobility, with fewer traffic jams, cleaner and more respectful with the environment, among others, which is based on the connectivity of the vehicles.

At the same time, we are experiencing an unstoppable boom in the implementation of fleet management whose daily operations are perfectly aligned with the principles of this intelligent mobility that implies “safety, efficiency, clean technology, and better integration fits with a new normal in the daily business operations ”.

In this sense, companies that have already implemented GPS fleet management systems have managed to improve their productivity, reduce their fuel consumption and CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, in addition to improving their customer service.

And it is in this new paradigm, offering a customer service “with deliveries on the same day, route updates, with full communication, traceability and complete visibility” 7 requires technology such as Telematics to help us improve our delivery times, immediate communication with the client, creating a memorable customer experience based on excellence in service.

Ready for the future

Telematics helps you anticipate this new paradigm of smart mobility in which smart work will shape the daily workflow of the most competitive companies.

By 2025, 90 million commercial vehicles will be connected to telematics systems and the telematics market will be worth close to $ 20 billion.

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