School of Engineering and technology

Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering

Arduino Project
on

GPS Tracker Using Arduino Uno

Presented by Project Guide

Dr. Karabi Baruah

Kolagani Praneeth- 23BBTEC021 Assistant Professor,
Darshan A Shetty - 23BBTEC005 Dept. of ECE,
SoET, CMRU,
Bangalore.

Date: 23 / 04 / 2025

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Outline
•Introduction
•Objective/Objectives
•Methodology
•Circuit diagram
•Hardware Description
•Software Description
•Advantages/Disadvantages
•Applications
•Conclusion
•References

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 Introduction
• A GPS (global positioning system) tracker utilises satellite signals to
accurately determine the location of an object or person in real
time.

• GPS trackers consist of hardware and software components that

work together to receive signals from GPS satellites.

• Originally developed by the United States Department of Defense

for military applications, GPS technology has become widely
accessible for civilian use.

• They are commonly used in various industries such as

transportation, logistics, fleet management, personal safety, and
asset tracking.
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 Objectives
The objectives of this project are:

1.Design and Build a GPS Tracker System

Develop a working prototype using Arduino Uno, a GPS
module (e.g., NEO-6M), and optional GSM module (e.g.,
SIM800L) for location tracking.
2.Real-Time Location Tracking
Collect real-time geographical coordinates (latitude and
longitude) from the GPS module and process them using the
Arduino Uno.
3.User Interface
Develop a basic interface (web or mobile) to display the
device's real-time location on a map (e.g., using Google Maps
API).
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 Methodology
1. Problem Definition and Objectives
The primary objective is to create a GPS-based tracking system that can acquire geographical data
(latitude, longitude, altitude) and display or transmit it for further use. The project will involve:

• Extracting GPS data.

• Processing the data in real-time.
• Optionally transmitting the data via a communication module (e.g., GSM) for remote monitoring.

2. Hardware Requirements
• Arduino Uno: The microcontroller board that will serve as the core of the GPS tracker.
• GPS Module (e.g., NEO-6M): This will receive signals from GPS satellites and provide location
data.
• GSM Module (optional, e.g., SIM800L): To send location data over SMS or an internet
connection.

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 Methodology

Software Requirements

• Arduino IDE: For programming the Arduino Uno.

• TinyGPS++ Library: For decoding and processing GPS data.
• SoftwareSerial Library: For enabling serial communication on non-default pins.
• GSM Library (optional): For communication with the GSM module (if used for remote
data transmission).

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 Circuit Diagram

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 Hardware Description
System Design and Architecture:
The GPS tracking system based on Arduino Uno is designed around a modular and scalable
architecture, integrating key hardware and software components to ensure efficient real-time location
tracking and data communication. The system is primarily composed of four major modules: the
Microcontroller Unit (MCU), the GPS Receiver Module, the Communication Module
Workflow:
1. Powering the System
 Supply 5V power to the Arduino Uno.
 Power the GPS module (usually via 3.3V or 5V, depending on the module).
2. Initializing Components
 Initialize serial communication between Arduino and:
o The computer (for monitoring) via Serial.begin().
o The GPS module via SoftwareSerial or another UART port.

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 Hardware Description
3. Receiving GPS Data
 The GPS module continuously sends NMEA sentences (raw location data).
 Arduino reads incoming serial data from the GPS module.
4. Parsing the GPS Data
 Extract useful information (latitude, longitude, time, speed, etc.) from the raw NMEA sentences.
 Use a GPS parsing library like TinyGPS++ to simplify this step.
5. Processing Location Data
 Filter or validate GPS readings (e.g., check if the fix is valid, discard errors).

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 Software Description
The software for the GPS tracker built on Arduino Uno is developed using the Arduino Integrated
Development Environment (IDE) and written in C/C++ language, focusing on efficient data
acquisition, processing, and communication.

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 Software Description
Code Description:

Source Code
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

// Define the RX and TX pins for the

SoftwareSerial interface
#define GPS_TX_PIN 2
#define GPS_RX_PIN 3

// Create a SoftwareSerial object for

communication with the NEO-6M GPS module
SoftwareSerial gpsSerial(GPS_RX_PIN, GPS_TX_PIN);

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 Software Description
void setup() {
// Initialize serial communication with the computer
Serial.begin(9600);

// Initialize serial communication with the GPS

module
gpsSerial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
// Read data from the GPS module and send it to the
computer
if (gpsSerial.available()) {
char c = gpsSerial.read();
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 Software Description
}

// Read data from the computer and send it to the

GPS module
if (Serial.available()) {
char c = Serial.read();
gpsSerial.write(c);
}
}

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 Advantages/Disadvantages
Advantages:

1.Easy to Build and Customize:

• Arduino is known for its ease of use, especially for beginners. Its open-source
nature and extensive online community support mean you can easily find
resources, libraries (like TinyGPS++), and tutorials to help with your project.
• The system is highly customizable, allowing you to tailor it to specific needs. For
example, you can modify the code to send data at different intervals or add
features such as logging or geofencing.

2.Real-Time Location Data:

• The GPS tracker provides real-time location data, making it useful for
applications such as vehicle tracking, personal safety, and asset monitoring. The
Arduino Uno processes the data efficiently, ensuring you get continuous updates
about the location.
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 Advantages/Disadvantages
Disadvantages:

1. Limited Processing Power and Memory

• Issue: The Arduino Uno has limited processing power (16 MHz clock speed) and
memory (2 KB SRAM and 32 KB flash). For more complex tasks, real-time tracking,
or logging large amounts of data, the Arduino Uno may struggle or even crash.
2. GPS Signal Dependence
• Issue: GPS tracking depends heavily on having a clear line of sight to the sky. In
areas with poor satellite visibility (such as indoors, tunnels, or urban canyons), the
GPS module may fail to acquire a reliable signal.
• Impact: This can lead to inaccurate or delayed tracking, reducing the system's
effectiveness in certain environments.

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 Applications
1. Vehicle Tracking:
• Fleet Management: In logistics and transport businesses, GPS trackers
can be used to monitor the real-time location of delivery trucks, buses, or
other vehicles. This helps improve route planning, reduce fuel
consumption, and enhance security.
. Personal Safety:
• Emergency Tracking Devices: For elderly individuals, children, or people
in risky environments, a GPS tracker can be used to provide real-time
location updates. A simple wearable device could allow family members or
caregivers to track their whereabouts for safety reasons.

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 Conclusion

The GPS tracker built with an Arduino Uno is a simple yet powerful project that
leverages the capabilities of GPS modules and the flexibility of Arduino. By
interfacing the Arduino with a GPS module, we can easily extract real-time
geographical data such as latitude, longitude, and altitude. This data can then be
used for various applications such as tracking vehicles, monitoring locations, or
integrating with communication modules like GSM to send updates remotely.
By understanding the fundamentals of GPS communication, interfacing
with modules, and using Arduino, we have created a cost-effective GPS tracking
system that is easy to modify, extend, and apply in numerous fields.

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 References

• https://www.electronicsforu.com/
• https://projecthub.arduino.cc/
• [3] Arduino Official Documentation

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 THANK YOU

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