Still needs some tweaking but here's my latest project, an Arduino based tracking device installed inside an empty PlayStation 3 case.
Nice little project there.
You mentioned you talked to several law enforcement personnel. Did you discuss the legal value of this project? IE, did they believe police would be able to obtain a warrant to search say, a house that your gps data points to?
I didn't ask about warrants but I did pose the scenario and the answer was "you have every right to get your personal property back". Not too specific but I figure it's better than nothing.
That's a great project!
Very nice work! Great info. on keeping it low cost. I hope you can share the code too. That is a neat project.
How about something that could track this down? (bought at a garage sale for $1 a couple of minutes ago):
@wayneft: Nice!
One suggestion. Details. When recovering stolen property, the police like visible unique details about the property. For example, if I report that my "F-150" was stolen, the police are understandably not going to get very far. However, if I report that my "red F-150 with paint peeling off the hood, minor body damage below the driver's door, a hard cap over the bed, and license plate number XYZ-123" was stolen, the police not only have a much better chance of recovering my property they will have no doubt that it is my truck.
So, I suggest you add a "serial number" to the inside and outside of the cabinet.
Good idea. I'll engrave a serial number on the outside of the case. As for inside, the GSM has an IMEI number that I have recorded and the T-Mobile SIM card is registered to me so that should suffice.
Perfect. Even Sergeant Frank Drebin could figure out that it belongs to you.
Here's another potentially useful option to add on.
A high pitch buzzer or siren of some sort that can be activated via text message. Get to the general location, get the police on scene, and then activate the buzzer as an audible locator. the louder the better, obviously. Preferably something that could be heard from outside a typical residence. A regular little piezo buzzer would likely be inadequate. A small handheld compressed air horn with solenoid activation would be perfect. (I saw one years ago that could be used with one of those small CO2 bb gun cartridges).
Actually I mentioned in the article that I have a piezo speaker from a carbon monoxide detector that I want to incorporate. I don't know if you've ever heard one go off but they're very loud!
I'm also working on shrinking everything down to a single board so I can fit it inside a working PS3. I've got it down to about 2.5" square so far...
I'm also working on shrinking everything down to a single board so I can fit it inside a working PS3. I've got it down to about 2.5" square so far...
Almost finished...sending out the gerbers for the first board this week. I'm giving away one for free also...anyone interested see here... http://dsscircuits.com/articles/name-this-board-contest.html