Telematics in the context of Wireless communication

A GPS tracking unit, commonly referred to as a GPS tracker or simply tracker, is a device used as part of a tracking system to track the location of the asset it is connected to. It uses a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to determine its geographic position. This location data, along with other vehicle or asset telemetry, is transmitted to an Internet-connected device or a central server using an embedded cellular, radio, or satellite modem. This enables the real-time monitoring and management of vehicles, assets, personnel, and animals from a remote location, and is used in intelligent transportation systems. The global market was valued at over $2.5 billion in 2022 and projected to grow at a CAGR of over 13% to reach $4.76 billion by 2027.

GPS tracking units are used by consumers and are a component of fleet telematics systems and fleet digitalization. Data collected by these devices is typically sent to specialized fleet management software platforms. While many modern vehicles are equipped with a factory-installed telematic control unit (TCU) from the manufacturer, aftermarket GPS tracking units are used to manage mixed fleets (with vehicles from different brands) and to equip vehicles that lack native telematics systems. Specialized hardware manufacturers produce these devices.

Vehicle audio is equipment installed in a car or other vehicle to provide in-car entertainment and information for the occupants. Such systems are popularly known as car stereos. Until the 1950s, it consisted of a simple AM radio. Additions since then have included FM radio (1952), 8-track tape players, Cassette decks, record players, CD players, DVD players, Blu-ray players, navigation systems, Bluetooth telephone integration and audio streaming, and smartphone controllers like CarPlay and Android Auto. Once controlled only from the dashboard with a few buttons, today they can be controlled by steering wheel controls and voice commands.

Initially implemented for listening to music and radio, vehicle audio is now part of car telematics, telecommunications, in-vehicle security, handsfree calling, navigation, and remote diagnostics systems. The same loudspeakers may also be used to minimize road and engine noise with active noise control, or they may be used to augment engine sounds, for example, making a small engine sound bigger. Vehicle audio systems have begun to move to digital platforms utilizing bus networks and optical cables for signal transfer rather than traditional analog cables.

OnStar Corporation is a subsidiary of General Motors that provides subscription-based telematics services, including communications, in-vehicle security, emergency services, turn-by-turn navigation, and remote diagnostics systems throughout the United States, Canada, Chile, China, Mexico, Europe, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

A similar service known as "Vauxhall/Opel OnStar" was available in western Europe and "ChevyStar" in Latin American markets (except in Brazil and Argentina). In September 2011 the president of OnStar stated that the service had more than six million customers. On May 9, 2018, Vauxhall Motors announced that Vauxhall OnStar, alongside Opel OnStar services, would cease to operate after December 31, 2020, following Groupe PSA's purchase of Vauxhall Motors and Opel from GM.

A tracking system is a technology used to monitor and record the location and movement of objects or people in real-time or through a historical log. It combines a locating technology, such as GPS, BLE, or RFID, with a software system that collects, processes, and displays the data.

The primary purpose of a tracking system is to provide location-based data to improve efficiency, safety, and security across a wide range of applications. In logistics and fleet management, these systems form the core of modern telematics, enabling companies to optimize routes, monitor assets, and ensure driver safety through methods like driver scoring. They are also used for track and trace solutions in the supply chain, where they are used to ensure product integrity and combat counterfeiting. Beyond commercial use, tracking systems are integral to many consumer services, from personal item finders to ride-hailing apps.

Vehicle location data is the big data collection of vehicle locations, including automatic vehicle location data, a core feature of any vehicle tracking system. This usually includes times and often photographs as well, a practice known as video telematics. The process of collecting this data from remote assets via telemetry is a core component of telematics, often managed by a telematic control unit. Its application in the commercial sector forms the basis of fleet digitalization and is central to any fleet telematics system.

Common methods of data collection include automatic number plate recognition from cameras, such as a Dashcam, and radio-frequency identification (RFID) from transponders. In commercial contexts, a dedicated GPS tracking unit is often used for this purpose, forming part of a wider tracking system. Databases of this information are maintained by both government and private entities. For businesses, this data is essential for fleet management tasks like Track and trace, enabling vehicle repossession, and consumer profiling through methods like Driver scoring. Government databases have been subjected to legal orders for location data, and access may be granted in both criminal and civil cases.

A fleet telematics system is a method for managing vehicle fleets by combining in-vehicle hardware with a centralized software platform. This integration facilitates the real-time collection and analysis of data related to a vehicle's location, its mechanical health, and the performance of its driver. While it uses vehicle tracking for foundational automatic vehicle location, a comprehensive telematics system goes further by tapping into a vehicle's onboard diagnostic systems. It is a component of fleet digitalization, transforming raw data into insights for improving efficiency, safety, and lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO).

These systems are used in modern fleet management, providing data on everything from fuel consumption and engine maintenance to driver scoring and route planning. A common challenge that modern platforms address is the consolidation of data from a mixed fleet of vehicles and machinery from various manufacturers into a single, unified system. The technology is used in commercial industries and for consumer services like carsharing and ride-hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt.

In the automotive industry, a telematic control unit (TCU) is an embedded system that connects a vehicle to the internet and serves as a hub for external wireless communications. It enables modern connected vehicle services, including telematics, fleet management, and V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) communication. The TCU's primary functions are to collect data from the vehicle's internal systems, a process known as telemetry, and to facilitate two-way communication with cloud-based services. While the term typically refers to a factory-installed (OEM) unit, its functionality is also available through third-party aftermarket telematic devices that can be installed in vehicles not originally equipped with an OEM system.

Automotive electronics are electronic systems used in vehicles, including engine management, ignition, radio, carputers, telematics, in-car entertainment systems, and others. Ignition, engine and transmission electronics are also found in trucks, motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and other internal combustion powered machinery such as forklifts, tractors and excavators. Related elements for control of relevant electrical systems are also found on hybrid vehicles and electric cars.

Electronic systems have become an increasingly large component of the cost of an automobile, from only around 1% of its value in 1950 to around 30% in 2010. Modern electric cars rely on power electronics for the main propulsion motor control, as well as managing the battery system. Future autonomous cars will rely on powerful computer systems, an array of sensors, networking, and satellite navigation, all of which will require electronics.

Asset tracking is a specific application of telematics using a tracking system to monitor the location and status of physical assets. It involves using location data to know where an asset is, where it has been, and when it is expected to arrive at its destination. While the underlying technology is the same as automatic vehicle location technology used for a vehicle tracking system or in fleet management, asset tracking typically refers to the monitoring of non-vehicular assets, such as shipping containers, tools, medical equipment, and high-value inventory.

Video telematics is a technology that combines video cameras with telematics data, such as GPS location and sensor readings, to provide a real-time, contextual view of assets and personnel as part of a tracking or automatic vehicle location solution. According to industry analysis, the adoption of video telematics has been the "hottest industry trend over the past five years" and "hasn't slowed down," with primary uptake coming from fleets adding video capabilities to their existing systems. While used in fleet digitalization for managing vehicle fleets through fleet management, its principles are also applied to enhance the safety of lone workers through body-worn cameras.

The technology evolved from earlier, non-connected in-vehicle video recorders (Mobile DVRs) which only stored footage locally. By connecting cameras to a central cloud-based platform and synchronizing video with telemetry data, video telematics provides verifiable visual context to operational events.