Satellite Tracking System

This article will give you information on the evolution, function and uses of Satellite Tracking System.So read to know more....
Satellite Tracking System
What is Satellite Tracking System?

Satellite Tracking System is the technology with the help of which the peripheral location of a vehicle can be determined. It gives you the location within the range of hundred meters. It can also be used to track the mobile sim cards and the person who is using a particular card can be tracked down easily with the help of satellite tracking system.

Basics of a Satellite Tracking System

It is not one technology that is called Satellite Tracking System; it is an integration of various technologies that help in the process of tracking. Let us look into the kind of technologies that are used to locate wireless devices. The first system that is used is Geographic Information Systems or GIS that is used only for large-scale location-tracking systems because it requires capturing and storing geographic information which cam be later analyzed and reported. Then there is Global Positioning System or GPS, which consists of a constellation of twenty-seven Earth-orbiting satellites, out of which only twenty-four are in operation and three are kept as back-ups in case one fails. GPS helps in tracking but then the device should have clear line of sight with at least four or more satellites. This system is usually used for surveying, farming, transportation or military use.

Small Microchips can also be attached to the thing that needs to be tracked which would have Radio Frequency Identification tags so that their movements can be tracked but this system would work and give reports only when prompted. Wireless Local Area network can also be useful when you want to track since it consists of a network of devices, which are connected to each other with the help of radio frequency. So the information is passed on from one device o the other through radio waves. Satellite Tracking systems use one combination of one of these technologies. Each satellite in the Satellite Tracking System is called a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, which are constantly in touch with the ground stations primarily used by NASA for space communications.

Evolution of Satellite Tracking System

It originated in the past when traders needed to keep track of their fleet of ship. Some kind of a system was required to determine where each vessel was at any given time. Vehicle tracking systems are now also used in consumers’ vehicles as a theft prevention measure and retrieval device. It helps the Police in tracking and locating a stolen vehicle by following the signal that is constantly emitted by the tracking system. Nowadays there are few vehicle tracking systems charge the user a monthly subscription for a package that consists of mapping software, hardware, installation, and tracking service. There are other companies that offer units that have to paid for, at one time and these work for the rest of the life of the vehicle.

Most of the Satellite tracking systems, which are used for tracking the location of a vehicle, use a form called AVL or Automatic Vehicle Location so that the vehicle can be easily located. The GPS system that has been mentioned earlier is now offered by the government without any charge, thus such an inexpensive system can be really helpful.

Uses of a Satellite Tracking System
  • Satellite Tracking Systems have brought a sea change in the sphere of crime tracking since now even if the criminal goes away from the scene of crime, he or she can still be tracked and the authorities can definitely keep a tab on him or her.
  • Fleet operators, as always, use it to keep a track of their fleet, which consists of important functions like routing, dispatch, conveying information when on-board and security of the fleet.
  • With the increasing number of call centers and equally increasing number call center cab crimes, if I can call it so, more and more call centers are taking it seriously and are getting all their vehicles under the vigilant watch of satellite Tracking System. Therefore the driving behavior and the route of the cab can also kept under watch.
There are satellite Tracking Systems that are available in the market and you can choose any one of these depending on your requirement.
   By Poushali Ganguly
Published: 12/21/2007
 
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