Saturday, March 12, 2005
Huang: Security system via GSM
By Jasper Huang
DURING the last interschool electronics project exhibit held at the NCCC Mall along Maa Road, Davao City, I stumbled over to what I would call the ultimate security system.
Produced by a quartet of Electronics and Communications Engineering students from Ateneo de Davao University, the security system offered a technology I thought would only be possible in James Bond films.
Incorporating GSM (Global System for Mobile) and PIC (Peripheral Interface Controller) technology to the vehicle's engine management system allowed the vehicle to literally call the owner whenever an unauthorized vehicle entry is detected.
Once vehicle privacy is breached, the GSM phone of the vehicle (which is tucked away from plain view) continuously dials the mobile phone of the owner until the call is answered.
Upon answering the call, the owner can then send a DTMF signal to the vehicle phone to initiate engine shut off.
The system is also programmable so that it will automatically shut the engine off even before the owner answers the call.
The system is still undergoing further development as the students plan to include a remote engine start and complete air conditioning management of the vehicle all controllable by your GSM phone.
Here is a list of the advantages of the GSM security system:
1) Aftermarket security systems immobilize the vehicle's ignition system that can be easily hotwired by experienced carnappers, the GSM system actually immobilizes the fuel system of the vehicle rendering the "hotwired" ignition useless.
2) Aftermarket security systems activate a siren which cannot be heard by the owner (which is also taken for granted by bystanders) if he is inside a building or a mall. The GSM system actually calls the owner to inform him about the unauthorized entry even if he is miles away from his vehicle.
3) Systems with remote engine start and air conditioning management have a limited range and typically needs a clear LOS (line of sight) to successfully activate it. The GSM system, using local network providers, can have control over the vehicle's system even if the owner cannot see the vehicle.
4) If the carnapper attempts to reset all vehicle settings by disconnecting the battery and connect it on again, the GSM system still can inform the owner since the GSM phone has its own battery supply.
5) The GSM system is completely stand-alone meaning it can work with or without an existing vehicle security system and could not interfere with the other system's functions.
6) The system is expandable such that it can control several other amenities of the vehicle such as headlights, signal lights, side mirrors for the electronic controlled ones, and window roll up and down just by reprogramming the PIC and adding the necessary modules.
This technological research project came straight from the engineering laboratories of the Ateneo de Davao University and the students behind the project are: system designer Marvin Lajo, PIC programmers Siegfred Sayson and Ryan Vir Alonso and mobile electronics researcher/developer Barthram Jon Capundag assisted by fellow ECE student Brian Go.