QUOVADIS Vehicle and Operator Tracking System
QUOVADIS is an integrated system enabling real-time tracking and monitoring of a fleet of land vehicles and operators. Position information from the targets is sent to control centres by mobile terminals, that can exploit diverse communication channels in order to maximise coverage; channels available include VHF/UHF radio, cellular telephone network, and satellite network. Furthermore the terminals can transmit status information to the control centres, enabling mobile operators to request intervention or support activities.
Control centres collect data generated by the mobile terminals and use them to enable real-time visualisation of the position of all targets on graphical workstations. There may be one or more control centres that can be located anywhere. The centres are networked in order to exchange information among them, so that all centres have full control over the area situation. Data are also stored for subsequent retrieval and processing (e.g. checking the route followed by one or more targets).
In case the operator needs to leave the vehicle and proceed by other means, the QVM-1145 can be extracted and carried on a specially designed backpack to continue operation; its light weight and compact size ensure that operator movements are not hindered. The QVM-1145 built-in lithium-polymer battery enables reliable operation for many hours. In addition to providing tracking information to control centres, the QVM-1145 can operate as a two-way VHF/UHF radio for voice communication.
The QVM-1145 can exploit different communication channels to ensure maximum coverage:
The QVM-1145 can be optionally equipped with a ruggedised control module featuring a touch-screen graphical display; the module can be connected via serial port, or wirelessly via Bluetooth. The control module allows the user to display its own position, the position of other QVM-1145 mobiles nearby and of base stations, and to send short messages and distress alerts through the touch-screen.
Control centres collect data generated by the mobile terminals and use them to enable real-time visualisation of the position of all targets on graphical workstations. There may be one or more control centres that can be located anywhere. The centres are networked in order to exchange information among them, so that all centres have full control over the area situation. Data are also stored for subsequent retrieval and processing (e.g. checking the route followed by one or more targets).
Main features
The QVM-1145 is the mobile terminal that transmits its own position to the control centre. Position information is obtained through a built-in GPS receiver. The QVM-1145 is primarily conceived as a vehicle-based device; its standard DIN form factor and 9–36 V dc power input make it easily installable in any kind of land vehicle.In case the operator needs to leave the vehicle and proceed by other means, the QVM-1145 can be extracted and carried on a specially designed backpack to continue operation; its light weight and compact size ensure that operator movements are not hindered. The QVM-1145 built-in lithium-polymer battery enables reliable operation for many hours. In addition to providing tracking information to control centres, the QVM-1145 can operate as a two-way VHF/UHF radio for voice communication.
The QVM-1145 can exploit different communication channels to ensure maximum coverage:
- VHF/UHF radio: This channel is the most suitable when there is at least one base station in line-of-sight. Communication is carried out directly between the QVM-1145 mobile terminal and the QVB-1145 base station; this results in immediate communication of the data and maximum reliability of the transmission. The QVM-1145 uses a TDMA access scheme over a 25-kHz VHF/UHF channel shared by all the mobiles in the same network, enabling efficient use of the radio spectrum.
- Terrestrial cellular telephone network: This channel can be used wherever cellular coverage is available. Data are transferred via SMS or data connection, depending on the user needs. The vast coverage currently available for cellular telephone makes this channel usable almost everywhere.
- Satellite communication: This channel is available worldwide and ensures that the terminal can be tracked in any part of the world. Any kind of satellite network (Iridium, INMARSAT, Thuraya, etc.) can be supported.
The QVM-1145 can be optionally equipped with a ruggedised control module featuring a touch-screen graphical display; the module can be connected via serial port, or wirelessly via Bluetooth. The control module allows the user to display its own position, the position of other QVM-1145 mobiles nearby and of base stations, and to send short messages and distress alerts through the touch-screen.
