IP Based Automotive Black Box for Accident Reporting and Anti-Theft Detection

Abstract

Road accidents and vehicle thefts cause significant loss of life and property globally. This paper presents an IP-Based Automotive Black Box using IoT technology for real-time vehicle monitoring, automatic accident reporting, and anti-theft detection. The system integrates a NodeMCU ESP8266 microcontroller with Neo-6M GPS module, SIM800C GSM module, MQ-7 carbon monoxide gas sensor, DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor, and piezoelectric vibration sensor. It continuously monitors critical parameters and hosts a self-hosted web dashboard accessible via the device’s local IP address. Upon detection of an accident (via piezoelectric impact), gas leakage, engine overheating, or unauthorized movement (theft via GPS deviation), the system activates a local buzzer, sends SMS alerts with Google Maps location links, and initiates voice calls to emergency contacts. Remote engine control (ON/OFF) is provided through the web interface using a relay module for anti-theft protection. The system operates independently without external cloud servers, making it reliable and cost-effective (≈ ₹2,800). Testing confirms reliable detection, sub-4-second alert latency, accurate GPS tracking, and seamless web monitoring.