New idea, what do you guys think
 

I'm sure someone already makes something similar, but mine is easier and cheaper.

Basically its an in car GPS with a GSM modem.You can send a text/SMS message from a cell phone and your car will send back its location.You can also lock/unlock the doors, start/stop, roll up windows/close sunroof, etc from your cell phone.I'm also working in a way to stop the vehicle if its stolen.You can send a "kill" command to the vehicle, it will wait until the speed drops below say 5-10 MPH, and then kill the fuel pump or ignition and send its location to your cell phone.I could use a high gain GSM antenna to make sure it always has service, and it could log location and send the last known if the GPS loses signal.It can be made to passive arm, which would pretty much make a car unstealable, well not totaly, but a thief wouldn't get very far and you would get your car back quickely(and more than likely in good condition).

Its looking like I could keep the price below $350, what do you guys think?

BTW I'm also thinking of making it into a dog collar as well, if I can find parts small enough.

Re: New idea, what do you guys think
 

under 350 would be kool with a warranty of some kind..but thats a great idea for a affordable GPS. keep up the work

Re: New idea, what do you guys think
 

I would love something like that. I live in fear everyday of my car being stolen since my last one was horribly raped twice.

Re: New idea, what do you guys think
 

sweet 8)

Re: New idea, what do you guys think
 

There is at least one alarm out there with similar features. I don't remember the name right now, but I saw it when I was looking for my compustar. There is lo-jack (sp?) that does the GPS end, but I don't think it does the windows and stuff.

Re: New idea, what do you guys think
 

Lojack isn't GPS, its just a radio beacon, and you need special receivers to use it.The receivers are available only to law enforcement, and not too many departments have them, only 22 states nationwide.If you can, try and remember what the other one is, I want to check it out.

Re: New idea, what do you guys think
 

It looks like someone beat you to it.

http://www.vehicle-tracking-gps.com/dta_nav.htm

That isn't the one that I saw before, but I just did a quick search and found that. Now, marketing is a big key to a products success. I have some excellent connections if you are really getting serious about this. It is possible that they would even buy your idea if they think it is pheasible enough. It would depend on what the market is like though, and it already looks like there are a few similar products out there.

Re: New idea, what do you guys think
 

I was pretty sure someone already did it, looking around I see lots of companies already did it.I'm going for low cost, simplistic add on for an existing alarm system though.

Re: New idea, what do you guys think
 

So let me get this straight i can send a text to my car to tell it to roll the windows down. Thats cool. But would I need an existing alarm? I am very interested. Could it also be made to like put the top down or something? That would be sweet.
Mike

Re: New idea, what do you guys think
 

Sounds awesome, but is there any sort of authentication for the various commands? It would be pretty crappy if someone could just send an sms to my my car and make it immobilize.

Re: New idea, what do you guys think
 

The car would have its own cell number, so unless the number was known by others, no one but you would know what number to call.Thats what I like about this the most, no 3rd party intervention is required, unlike the others where commands/location are relayed through a monitoring service.A password could be used as well.

Re: New idea, what do you guys think
 

No, yes

Re: New idea, what do you guys think
 

In respect to being able to put the top down, wouldn't you have to have someone near it to unlock the handles from the top when you wanted to put it down? That is always the thing I tell customers when they mention they want that. Do you have a different way around that?

Re: New idea, what do you guys think
 

thats also what i thought too. you could keep them unlatched like when i go to work and then when im about done i can put it down. i can see my car from where i work so i wouldtn be afraid to do that. also maybe theres a way you can reconfiguer the latching system. i donno. if i could put it down with the touch of a button i would find some way to make it work.

Re: New idea, what do you guys think
 

I'm sure you could electro-magnetically actuate the latches fairly easily.

Anyway, the GSM modem I ordered for the prototype, comes with an external CMOS camera(like whats in cell phones).I was thinking you could mount it in the dash, pointed at the drivers seat, so you can snap picture of the loser who stole your car.I would like to see the look on their face when the car kills and a camera flash goes off.