GPS Trailer Tracking w/ Battery - M2MForums: Your Online Resource & Community for M2M Application Development

dbaldwin · #1 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 01:35 PM

We're seeing more and more opportunities for tracking trailers in addition to fleet vehicles. I'm wondering if there's a device that you'd recommend for a flat-bed trailer that is connected to power a few times a week. The trailer is detached from the vehicle and left at the job site then moved to another when the job is done.

It would need to have a rugged enclosure and run up to a week on battery power. The customer seems okay with the device only reporting 2-4 times/day. Preferably, it would be GSM-based but satellite would be okay given a reasonable cost.

The Enfora MT family of devices seem like a reasonable solution, but they'd need to be enclosed and have a longer battery life.

Any ideas?

bmckeon · #2 (**permalink**) 10-02-2008, 11:51 AM

We are doing this now as we speak.
We have a battery, controller, and modem and all self-contained inside a rugged, weatherproof 4"x7"x4" enclosure (about the size of a brick or 3 VHS tapes stacked).

It is designed to track cargo or other items in transit. Tuck it into a load or strap it on any item and you're done.

Depending on the update frequency, we can have the battery last for a fews days or a month.

Getting ready to roll it out soon. Have a bit more testing to do, but so far results are solid. We obviously have some issues with cargo inside steel trailers or cargo containers because there is no external antenna. A more advanced version that will resolve that issue is slated for development.

Let me know what other questions you may have.

dbaldwin · #3 (**permalink**) 10-02-2008, 02:32 PM

Very interesting. Seems like it could do the job. Do you have any estimate on when it will be available and price estimate? We have a couple opportunities where this could prove useful, but very low quantities (< 10). It's a recurring theme though, where a customer wants to track a bunch of stuff as well as their trailers.

bmckeon · #4 (**permalink**) 10-02-2008, 11:08 PM

We should have some prototypes available for purchase in late October. Should have a datasheet available very soon as well. We're targeting an MSRP of $399. We are taking pre-orders now. We will not be providing free demos. Hope that helps.

dbaldwin · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 12:30 PM

That's a very reasonable MSRP and I'd love to see a datasheet. Please feel free to post it here if when it becomes available. Thx.

sollmann · #6 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 07:18 AM

Check with your Enfora representative, I believe they are also working on a standalone product (no external power required) for trailer tracking. Also check their website. Search for Asset Tracking and you can download a whitepaper (see link: Enfora | CTIA08 )

Steve

QRS01 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 05:58 AM

We have also developed a trailer device with a XT65 module inside, with a 1100 or 1600mah battery.
The choose for the XT65 was mainly because of the fact that you can alter the GPRS class of the device (less power consumption), airplane mode (GSM part is out) and the power saving modes and this can all controlled by the internal µprocessor. Secondly no leds attached, no RS232, all to minimize the power consumption.
Ofcourse depending on the rate of communication daily, the device can be operational for a couple of months.

bmckeon · #8 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 07:04 AM

We might be interested in looking at that device for an application. Do you have a link to some info on it? You may also want to add some contact info to your profile or add a signature to your posts. It helps to drive business when you can contact someone.

dbaldwin · #9 (**permalink**) 11-03-2008, 11:44 AM

@QRS01 We may be interested as well. Please post more details if you can.

M2M_Atlanta · #10 (**permalink**) 11-05-2008, 06:48 PM

This sure is a HOT topic...I was just at a show an introduced to this need as well

I'll keep an eye out for more info...

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