Nov/Dec 2003

The self-contained SAT 101 GPS-based tracking module used in the Sterling application is itself new, having just been launched by supplier Satamatics.

It is designed for fitting on vehicles, plant and machinery or other remote assets, and can take its power from the vehicle, from a built-in battery or from solar panel. It has a built-in GPS unit for finding its location, and a transceiver operating on the Inmarsat D+ platform for automatic two-way messaging throughout the world.

Yet all this is contained in a circular housing little larger than a CD disk and a similar-sized rectangular on-board unit.

Whilst self-contained, the package is designed to be integrated into wider-ranging on-board monitoring and alarm systems, and has interfaces to allow it to gather information on vehicle and driver, fuel consumption and other functions. It is remotely programmable, and is said to consume minimal power, so that it can be used for long periods unattended.

Use of the Inmarsat geostationary satellite network for communications means the system will work virtually anywhere in the world, since both Inmarsat and the GPS satellite network are almost universally available.