ENHANCING STOLEN VEHICLE RECOVERY WITH DEAD RECKONING TECHNOLOGY

INTRO

With a growing global demand for vehicles, thefts are rising too. Despite businesses integrating sophisticated telematics solutions, methods of theft are evolving just as rapidly. Basic telematics systems are no longer sufficient to prevent vehicle theft, as thieves often adapt to the features provided by telematics devices, and over time, they learn how to bypass them. With this in mind, telematics service providers must continuously introduce new technologies, advanced features, and innovative strategies to stay ahead of evolving theft techniques.

CHALLENGE

GPS signal jamming is one of the most commonly used methods to steal vehicles. Although the use of such devices is illegal, their purchase or ownership is not always prohibited. In some countries, where regulations are not strict, sellers often avoid calling them "jammers" and instead market them as "GPS signal shields," making it difficult to regulate or ban their sale. On the other hand, countries like Mexico have taken steps to regulate the use of jammers, allowing authorities to impose penalties of 12 to 15 years in prison. Despite these measures, in 2024, 64% of vehicle thefts in Mexico involved the use of signal jamming equipment.

Other continents are not falling behind vehicle thefts either – for instance, according to Australia's most popular and trusted financial comparison websites, approximately one car is stolen every 11 minutes in the country. Queensland and New South Wales are the ones with the highest number of vehicle thefts. Coincidentally or not, these same states also have the highest number of tunnels, which can make vehicle theft easier. If a vehicle is stolen and the GPS tracker has not yet been compromised, the track often disappears as soon as the vehicle enters a tunnel. This wouldn’t be a major issue if tunnels were straight; however, in countries like Australia, tunnels are often winding, making it difficult to determine which direction the vehicle is going.

Tunnels are not the only places where a stolen vehicle can disappear. With a theft of 354 vehicles per day and not higher than 30% recovery rate, the UK also faces significant challenges in recovering stolen vehicles. Although many service providers have already implemented telematics solutions in their fleets, the difficulty arises when thieves hide vehicles in underground garages. By law, it is often prohibited to inspect every individual underground garage; only a few can be legally opened. Therefore, knowing at least the approximate location of a stolen vehicle can greatly aid in its search and recovery.

SOLUTION

Even though all Teltonika devices have features such as jamming detection, unplug detection and towing detection that help in the event of theft, we are taking a step further. To overcome challenges related to blind spots while recovering a stolen vehicle, Teltonika offers FT platform devices equipped with dead reckoning functionality.The wide product portfolio allows you to choose from different versions tailored to various business niches. This time, we recommend one of the most popular models for basic scenarios: the FTC927 vehicle GPS tracker with dead reckoning capability.

How does it work? Teltonika’s device with dead reckoning functionality collects position data from two sources:

• Connected satellites - FT platform devices can connect to up to 41 satellites.

• Built-in accelerometer and gyroscope - used for motion sensing and orientation detection.

  
  

The FTC927 combines data from both sources to provide highly accurate positioning. Under normal conditions, the device continuously receives signals from satellites to determine the vehicle's location. However, in situations where the GPS signal is temporarily jammed or lost - such as in tunnels, underground parking lots, or urban canyons - the FTC927’s dead reckoning feature activates, which estimates the vehicle’s position using the accelerometer and gyroscope. The accelerometer measures how quickly the vehicle speeds up or slows down, while the gyroscope tracks orientation and movement to detect turns and tilts. This combination effectively fills the gap in tracking by switching between satellite-based positioning and sensor-based estimates: a period of satellite tracking is followed by position estimation using the accelerometer and gyroscope, then re-estimating again when the satellite signal comes back, and so on. This back-and-forth method helps maintain accurate tracking even in challenging areas.

While the FTC927 is estimating the vehicle’s position, the data is continuously sent to the server, allowing the service provider to take immediate action to recover a stolen vehicle even if it’s in a tunnel or underground garage. In addition, thanks to the flexible FTC927 pinout, actions such as triggering a hidden buzzer or enabling unusual vehicle light patterns can be initiated, potentially slowing down the theft process.

TOPOLOGY

BENEFITS

• Reliable stolen vehicle recovery – when a GNSS jammer is used, dead reckoning helps reconstruct an approximate route based on accelerometer and gyroscope data, providing insights into the vehicle’s direction and possible search radius.

  
  

• Accurate last-known hiding spot – if a stolen vehicle is driven into a closed garage or warehouse where GNSS signals are blocked, the DR feature extends the track right up to the point of entry. This gives companies valuable information about the most probable hiding location.
  

• Higher recovery rates – uninterrupted position data improves the chances of detecting and recovering stolen vehicles faster, minimising financial and operational losses for businesses and private owners.
  

• Flexible pinout – enables additional scenarios, such as activating alarms, hidden buzzers, or unusual light patterns, helping deter thieves and slow down the theft process.
  

• Essential anti-theft features – while FT platform devices offer advanced dead reckoning functionality, they also retain all the essential features, such as jamming detection, unplug detection, and towing detection. Thanks to these features, vehicle owners are immediately notified about possible threats and can take timely action to prevent theft.
  

WHY TELTONIKA?

Teltonika strives to stay one step ahead in addressing the evolving challenges of the telematics industry. As vehicle theft techniques constantly change, we continuously innovate and deliver solutions that help our partners remain prepared for new threats.

The FT platform reflects our commitment to future-proof solutions. By combining advanced features such as dead reckoning with essential time-tested functionalities, Teltonika ensures that businesses can rely on robust, long-term, and adaptable technologies to secure their fleets.