ICIIBMS 2019, Track 1: Image Processing, Computer Science and Information Engineering, Sanghai, China, Nov.

21-24,2019

Anti-theft device for car : Alert system using radio wave

Kreadtisak Lappanitchayakul
Division of Information System, Faculty of Business Administration
Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon
Bangkok, Thailand
[email protected]

Abstract— Currently, car theft in Thailand is one problem that included Toyota, Isuzu, Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi. In
affects the economy and involves transnational criminals, although addition, for the period from 1 January 2015-15 January 2016,
there are many anti-theft devices available on the market. These a total of 553 vehicles were stolen [2] (refer to Table 2).
mechanisms include gear locking devices, steering wheel locking
devices, clutch/brake locking systems, TDS systems, voice Table 2. A total of 553 vehicles were stolen
transmissions, wireless door-lock remote control system, and GPS
Rank Brand Amount
car tracking devices. Of the mentioned devices the GPS tracking
devices are interesting as they use the principle of connecting to the 1 Toyota 239
cell phone system to send, on-demand, the GPS location of the car 2 Isuzu 164
to the owner's phone in the case that the vehicle is stolen. However, 3 Honda 45
these devices are not popular in the marketplace because the service 4 Mitsubishi 39
fees are quite expensive. Also, the function of these devices is to 5 Nissan 33
send the vehicles location to the verified car owner, so the
6 Mazda 10
protection function is activated after the vehicle is stolen and the
owner is only then aware that the car has been stolen. This is 7 Chevrolet 9
different from the devices that researchers have developed. The 8 Hino 7
researcher's equipment for when someone tries to steal a vehicle is 9 Ford 4
the system will detect the movement inside the car and send the 10 BMW 3
GPS location to the car owner instantaneously. Additionally, the
device was developed by using LoRa technology to transmit the data, The car theft problem also affects car-motorcycle hire
giving a lower operating cost than by using a GPS tracking device purchase due to the impossibility of tracking the vehicles and
as sold on the market presently.
of the utilization by the hirers. Moreover, although the owners
Keywords— Anti-theft device for car
have not possessed those stolen vehicles yet, installments must
still be settled [2].
I. INTRODUCTION Another issue is about transnational motorcycle theft gangs
coming for loans to buy motorcycles, and then selling them in
Despite various forms of car alarm devices in the market
Myanmar. This leads to bad debts, which hugely affects auto
today, the number of automobile thefts has kept increasing
finance service providers; thus, it is regarded as a form of
every year. According to the statistics of car theft cases
transnational crime.
between 2009-2011 [1], there were 3,043; 2,601, and 1,618
reports, respectively. In 2012, there were 10 provinces with the
highest number of car theft reports (refer to Table 1).
Table 1. 10 provinces with the highest number of car theft
reports
Rank Province Amount
1 Bangkok 322
2 Pathum Thani 154
3 Chon Buri 135
4 Nonthaburi 65
5 Samut Prakan 60
6 Nakhon Pathom 48
7 Rayong 48
8 Ayutthaya 47 Fig 1. Blutooth Technology Architecture
9 Phitsanulok 42 According to the aforementioned statistics, it can be noticed
10 Prachin Buri 40 that a great number of car theft prevention devices in the
market; e.g., gear locks, steering wheel locks, brake and clutch
After car theft, transnational car smuggling for sale locks, TDS or alarm system, wireless door lock remote control
emerged. According to the National Statistical Office, the top system, and GPS still cannot solve the problem of car theft
five brands of lost automobiles in the past nine years have 100%. However, one system that can help track vehicles after

978-1-7281-3380-5/19/$31.00 ©2019 IEEE

351
ICIIBMS 2019, Track 1: Image Processing, Computer Science and Information Engineering, Sanghai, China, Nov.21-24,2019
they are stolen is GPS, which is currently used in Thailand for Table 3. The compared of Low Power Wireless Technology
logistics procedures. It is partly used for tracking cars due to its
cost and other service charges after use [3]. No. Type Max. data Max. line-of-
throughput sight range*
1 Bluetooth 2 Mbps 750 m
2 ZigBee 250 Kbps 130 m
3 Wi-Fi 347 Mbps N/A
A. Bluetooth
This is a wireless personal area network (WPAN) based on
IEEE 802.15.1. It is basically used on the 2.4GHz frequency
with a maximum speed of data transfer at 1Mb/s. Bluetooth
technology can connect to any device with up to eight nodes of
the same technology. Specifically, seven nodes are slaves while
one node is the master [8].
The basis of Bluetooth is a connection in the form of
master-slave. The power used for the connection between the
transmitter and receiver is strong. Its architecture is displayed
Fig 2. Zigbee Architecture in Figure 1.
Therefore, the researcher had a particular interest in this
kind of device, which functions based on GPS radar with a B. ZigBee
transmitter to notify people where a stolen car is at that ZigBee [9] is a wireless communication technology based
moment. After the owner is notified of its location, he/she can on IEEE802.15.4 with a low rate of data transfer, low power,
immediately cooperate with the police for tracking the vehicle and low cost. The key objective is to create a system called
[4]. “wireless sensor network,” suitable for monitoring work.
Nonetheless, due to very high service charges, the ZigBee functions on three bandwidths; i.e., 2.4 GHz, 915
researcher created a device based on LoRa technology in order MHz, and 868 MHz. Each bandwidth contains 16 channels, 10
to send the GPS location at a cheaper service charge than the channels, and one channel, respectively. The data transfer
GPS. Additionally, the produced device would cost only 300 receipt rates (by air) are 250 Kbps, 40 Kbps, and 20 Kbps,
Baht/year [5]. respectively. Its architecture is displayed in Figure 2.
People are also mostly confused by Zigbee and Wi-Fi, as
II. LORA IN THAILAND they use the same bandwidth at 2.4 Ghz. Even so, they cannot
Thailand currently provides a LoRa service at two be used to communicate with each other due to the different
bandwidths; i.e., 920-925 MHz and 433MHz. For the 920-925 protocols.
MHz bandwidth, it was announced in the Royal Thai
Government Gazette of 24 November 2017 [6], by the Office
of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications
Commission (NBTC) about the technical standard of
telecommunication equipment for non-RFID radios that used a
920-925 MHz bandwidth. These must contain Equivalent
Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) not over four watts.
Service providers of this bandwidth must also have a radio
communication license.
In contrast, regarding the 920-925 MHz bandwidth, in the
Royal Thai Government Gazette of 25 June 2015 [7], the
NBTC announced that the land mobile service plans and fixed
services through 401-405.9MHz, 406.2-410 MHz, and 430-450
MHz bandwidths with an EIRP at 10 mW were exempted from
having a radio communication license. The license was only
required for EIRP at one watt.

III. LOW POWER WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES

From the past until now, there have been a variety of low
power wireless network services in which the technologies Fig 3. GPS Navigater and Tracking Procedure
have connected to one another; e.g., Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi,
and LoRa [8]. The basic characteristics of those technologies
are compared in Table 3.

352
ICIIBMS 2019, Track 1: Image Processing, Computer Science and Information Engineering, Sanghai, China, Nov.21-24,2019
saves power during the low receipt and transfer of data.
Moreover, when there is no data transfer, the device can be set
to a power-saving mode resulting in cost saving.

Fig 4. Car tracking device design on the 920-925 MHz

C. Wi-Fi
Fig 6. Car tracking device design on the 433 MHz
Despite Bluetooth and ZigBee being low power and
wireless sensor technologies with low complications, they
produce low rates of data transfer and cannot resolve obstacles IV. RELATED WORK
relating to the frequencies. For these reasons, Wi-Fi was
created based on IEEE standard 802.11 [10]. Wi-Fi was A. GPS Navigation and Tracking Device
formerly used on several frequencies; e.g., 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, Since GPS has been available in the market, a lot of general
3.6GHz, 5 GHz, and 60 GHz. Now, it is only used on 2.4GHz users and the business sector have applied this technology in
and 5GHz, and can transfer and receive data at 11 Mbps to their daily life. GPS and a tracking system will collect the last
6.75Gbps. location on a GPS map. In some countries, parents use it for
D. LoRa tracking their children’s location when they are not at home.
The business sector also uses this system for collecting
LoRa is an abbreviation of the term “Long Range Low
vehicles’ locations, as it indicates where those vehicles are on
Power Wireless Platform [11].” The two letters of the first two
the map.
words are used as the abbreviation. LoRa is used for wireless
communication that can cover a wide area. In other words, it is In addition, a GPS tracking device is a small device in a
a low power wide area network (LPWAN). smartphone, which functions as a GPS tracker that can send
SMS or emails, as well as support Google Maps or other
mapping software. The tracker relies on a GPS module to
locate the device that connects to a mobile signal. Then, the
GPS location is sent to the SMS. The procedure of its function
is displayed in Figure 3. When the device sends the GPS
location, the user can use that location in Google Maps or other
mapping software in Fugure 3.

Fig 5. Car tracking system procedure on 920-925 MHz

LoRa is a wireless connection technology that is

appropriate for the Internet of Things (IoT) work. The main
data is obtained from receiver sensors. Furthermore, LoRa is
widely used nowadays, and leading companies have developed
microcontrollers to support LoRa technology connections. The Fig 7. Car tracking system procedure on 433 MHz
highlight of LoRa is the communication distance, as it can
receive and transfer data at the distance of 0-15 km. It also

353
ICIIBMS 2019, Track 1: Image Processing, Computer Science and Information Engineering, Sanghai, China, Nov.21-24,2019
V. DEVICE DESIGN A. Car tracking device was based on LoRa technology that
The researcher designed two forms of car tracking devices used the 920-925 MHz frequency of CAT Telecom
based on LoRa technology as follows: The researcher sat in the car from one location to another in
Bangkok. The first form of the device detected the motion of a
human in the car. The device sent the coordinates of the GPS
location to the gateway of the LoRa service provider. Then, the
researcher checked the data, which had been sent to the service
provider. The data from the device showed the coordinates of
the GPS location (refer to Figure 8). When we took the data
into Google Maps as in Figure 9.

Fig 8. Log Data

A. Car tracking device was based on LoRa technology that

used the 920-925 MHz frequency of CAT Telecom
Fig 10. IoT device received gps location data from Anti-theft device for car
A car tracking device was based on LoRa technology that
used the 920-925 MHz frequency of CAT Telecom, the service
B. Car tracking device was based on LoRa technology that
provider of LoRa in Thailand. The service areas included 31
provinces in Thailand. The researcher designed the device as used the 433 MHz
shown in Figure 4 together with the work procedure of its The researcher tested the second form of the device in a
system as shown in Figure 5. parked car with a human inside. When the device detected the
motion of the person in the car, it sent the GPS location to the
As can be seen in Figure 5, the device detected the next device (refer to Figure 10). This receiver device kept
creature’s motion, and then sent the GPS location every three withdrawing from the car until it could not receive any further
minutes to the gateway of the service provider. After that, the data from the device in the car. The finding showed that the
gateway sent the data to the network server and application total distance was only 100 meters. When using the data
server of the service provider, respectively. As a result, the user displayed on the screen of the second device to find the
could view the GPS location through the website of the service location in Google Maps, the finding was in accordance with
provider. the location of the parked car (refer to Figure 11).
B. Car tracking device was based on LoRa technology that
used the 433 MHz
A car tracking device was based on LoRa technology that
used the 433 MHz frequency with EIRP at 10 mW between the
IoT devices of LoRa technology. The researcher designed two
devices. The first one functioned as a motion detector. The
GPS location of the detected motion was sent to the next
receiver device, which showed the results of the received data
from the first device on the screen. The equipment is displayed
in Figure 6 together with the work procedure of its system as
shown in Figure 7.
VI. RESULTS
The findings from the tests of both forms of the devices are
described as follows:

Fig 11. Distance between source device (send data) and destintation device
(receive data)

Fig 9. Route Map from log data (red point is gps location which is sent from
lora)

354
ICIIBMS 2019, Track 1: Image Processing, Computer Science and Information Engineering, Sanghai, China, Nov.21-24,2019
VII. CONCLUSIONS
The findings from the tests of both forms of the devices [6] The Office of the National Broadcasting and
revealed the same functions. To clarify, when the motions of a Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). 2017. The
human in the car were detected, the data was sent to the technical standard of telecommunication equipment for
terminals. The difference was the distance of sending the non-RFID radios that used a 920-925 MHz bandwidth .
differing data. The first form of the device used the 920-925 (pp. 51). Bangkok: The Office of the National
MHz frequency, which could cover larger areas. That is Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission
because Cat Telecom has LoRA (LoRA WAN) cell towers and (NBTC)
antennas at several spots around Bangkok (refer to Figure 12). [7] The Office of the National Broadcasting and
On the contrary, the second form of the device used a lower Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). 2017. the
frequency, 433 MHz; and only had one receiver device. NBTC announced that the land mobile service plans
Therefore, the data was only received and transferred between and fixed services through 401-405.9MHz, 406.2-410
the two devices, which is the reason why the receipt-transfer MHz, and 430-450 MHz. (pp. 16). Bangkok: The
occurred in a shorter distance. Office of the National Broadcasting and
Telecommunications Commission (NBTC)
[8] Yang Bo. 2017. Bluetooth: Technology and
Application. 2017, (pp. 2-10)
[9] Ankur Tomar. 2011. Introduction to Zigbee
Technology. Global Technology Centre
[10] Keith Shaw. 2018. 802.11: Wi-Fi standards and speeds explained.
Retrieved Jan 10, 2019, https://www.networkworld.com
/article/3238664/80211-wi-fi-standards-and-speeds-
explained.html
[11] LoRa. Retrieved Jan 10, 2019, https://www.lora-
alliance.org. Accessed: 2015-11-07.

Fig 12. LoRa service area of Cat Telecom (red area)

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The research was supported by Business Administration
Faculty, Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon

REFERENCES
[1] Royal Thai Police. The statistics of car theft cases
between 2009-2011. Retrieved August 20, 2018,
http://service.nso.go.th/nso/nsopublish/TopTen/T08/T0
805/th/th.htm
[2] Connecting Opportunity. The top five brands of lost
automobiles. Retrieved August 20, 2018, http://www.
thansettakij.com/content/26784
[3] Softbiz Plus co.,ltd. Car theft prevention devices in the
market. Retrieved August 20, 2018,
http://www .softbizplus.com/general/734-types-of-car-
theft-and-how-to-prevent
[4] GPS Siam. Car Tracking System. Retrieved August 20,
2018, https://www.gpsiam.com/tracking-systems/gps-
tracking/
[5] CAT TELECOM PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED.
LoRa Network Connection. Retrieved Jan 10, 2019,
www.cattelecom.com/LoRa

355