A Low-Cost Intelligent Car Break-In Alert System: Using smartphone accelerometers for detecting vehicle break-ins

Smartphones provide sensors and online data connectivity which makes them suitable for individual alert systems. A prototype for a car break-in alert system has been developed which can detect activity through smartphone accelerometers. The main goal of this system is to provide a low-cost alternative to expensive embedded systems with similar functionality. It can be controlled remotely solely through text messages from another mobile phone, which provides the option to use SMS instead of internet data access, in case of high cost of internet data connection (international roaming charges). In case of a detected break-in the system will send a text message to the user’s second phone. The user also can query information and request the location of the vehicle. The prototype has been tested in various situations, and data have been collected to distinguish different scenarios. The system has been programmed with MIT App Inventor and will be made available for free on the Google Play Store.