The Raspberry Pi Pico makes it easy to create your own real-time GPS tracking system. With just a few parts and some basic programming, you can build a fully functional IoT GPS tracker thanks to reasonably priced GPS and GSM modules.
- Neo-6M GPS module to gather location data in real time,
- cellular communication using the SIM800L GSM module, and
- Data can be sent to the cloud and shown on an interactive map using the GeoLinker API.
Components Required
How Does It Work?
- Neo-6M GPS Module picks up latitude & longitude from GPS satellites and sends them as NMEA sentences.
- Raspberry Pi Pico reads these values over UART and parses them.
- SIM800L GSM Module transmits this data to the internet using HTTP POST requests.
- GeoLinker Cloud API stores the location data and plots it on a real-time map.
- If the GSM connection drops, data is stored offline and automatically synced once the network is back.
This way, no GPS point is lost even in areas with weak coverage.
Applications of Raspberry Pi Pico GPS Tracker
This tracker can be adapted for many real-world uses:- Vehicle Fleet Tracking – monitor cars or delivery vans in real-time.
- Asset Tracking – keep an eye on shipments, parcels, or equipment.
- Pet Locator – attach it to a collar to track pets.
- Bike/Scooter Tracking – prevent theft and track movement.
- Emergency Alert System – send SOS + live location on button press.