AfriGadget

18 year old self-taught electronics “genius” invents mobile phone-based vehicle anti-theft system.

Morris Mbetsa, an 18 year old self-taught inventor with no formal electronics training from the coastal tourist town of Mombasa on the Indian Ocean in Kenya, has invented the “Block & Track”, a mobile phone-based anti-theft device and vehicle tracking system.

The system, that Mbetsa created by combining technology from projects that he has completed in the past, uses a combination of voice, DTMF and SMS text messages over cell-based phone service to carry codes and messages that allow control of some of a vehicles’ electrical systems including the ignition to manage vehicle activation and disabling remotely in real time.

Another feature of the system is the capacity to poll the vehicle owner by mobile phone for permission to start when the ignition is turned in real time as well as eavesdrop on conversation in the vehicle.

Mbetsa is now looking for funding to commercially develop his proof of concept and bring it to the market as reported on this video carried on the Kenya Television Network earlier this year.

via 69MB.

Tags: Block & Track, KTN, mobile, Morris Mbetsa, SMS, vehicle tracking

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38 comments for this post.

Comment from 18 year old self-taught electonics “genius” invents mobile phone-based vehicle anti-theft system. | Txtin
16 July 2008 - 9:48 pm - :

[...] Original post by sms – Google News [...]

Comment from 18 year old self-taught electonics “genius” invents mobile phone-based vehicle anti-theft system. · Buwin Technology
16 July 2008 - 10:16 pm - :

[...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]

Comment from Piyush K
17 July 2008 - 3:15 am - :

Well Done Dude! Have a wonderful future ahead…

Cheers : )

Comment from Ruud Elmendorp
17 July 2008 - 7:09 am - :

Hi there,

Does anybody has the guys’ contacts?

It’s for a video news report.

Thanks!

Ruud Elmendorp
Video Journalist Africa
http://www.videoreporter.nl
+254 736 746 312

Comment from Ikem Nzeribe
17 July 2008 - 9:28 am - :

Damn, kid… you’re smart. Africa: innovate, innovate, innovate!

Comment from Productionfloor.com » Blog Archive » Carjacking
17 July 2008 - 12:31 pm - :

[...] AfriGadget. Morris Mbetsa, an 18 year old self-taught inventor with no formal electronics training from the [...]

Comment from louis
21 July 2008 - 11:42 am - :

here is another afrigadget
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogh_8jQsTxE

Comment from Teenager hacks together hardware for controlling your car via phone | numobile
28 July 2008 - 9:02 pm - :

[...] the next time you’re in Mombasa. Follow the break for a video of the system in action.[Via AfriGadget]Continue reading Teenager hacks together hardware for controlling your car via [...]

Comment from » Teenager hacks together hardware for controlling your car via phone | Latest Gadget Guide Review
28 July 2008 - 9:12 pm - :

[...] the next time you’re in Mombasa. Follow the break for a video of the system in action.[Via AfriGadget]Continue reading Teenager hacks together hardware for controlling your car via [...]

Comment from Teenager hacks together hardware for controlling your car via phone - Pocket.Info - Mobile 2.0 - Pocket.Info - Mobile 2.0
28 July 2008 - 10:10 pm - :

[...] the next time you're in Mombasa. Follow the break for a video of the system in action.[Via AfriGadget]Continue reading Teenager hacks together hardware for controlling your car via [...]

Comment from Teenager hacks together hardware for controlling your car via phone | Techno Portal
29 July 2008 - 4:35 am - :

[...] [Via AfriGadget] [...]

Comment from Teenager hacks together hardware for controlling your car via phone | Joxx.net
29 July 2008 - 9:38 am - :

[...] [Via AfriGadget] [...]

Comment from Teenager hacks together hardware for controlling your car via phone | Theblogsnews.com
29 July 2008 - 11:23 pm - :

[...] [Via AfriGadget] [...]

Comment from Patrick Jones
30 July 2008 - 7:24 am - :

Would anyone know his contacts or the TV station’s contacts?

Comment from GEARFUSE » Kenyan Teenager Invents Automobile Anti-Theft System
30 July 2008 - 7:54 am - :

[...] Link (via) Read More Anti-Theft Combination Bottle Lock for more beverage securityBrassknuck Cup Brings A Violent End To The Tea PartyAnti-Theft Car Tattoos: Un-Pimp My RideDIY Car Stereo Faceplate Fools Would-be ThievesWill you marry my tea? The Ring Mug TAGS: anti-theft, automobile, call, cell, control, invent, inventor, kenya, Mbetsa, phone, remote, system, teenage SHARE: Stumble Upon, Digg, del.icio.us, Reddit this, SlashdotSend to a FriendPermalink [...]

Comment from Teenager Hacks Hardware to Control Your Car Via Phone
30 July 2008 - 8:58 am - :

[...] time you’re in Mombasa. Follow the break for a video of the system in action. [Source: 69mb via AfriGadget]Continue reading Teenager Hacks Hardware to Control Your Car Via [...]

Comment from Curious Cat Science and Engineering Blog » Mobile Phone-based Vehicle Anti-theft System
30 July 2008 - 1:13 pm - :

[...] year old self-taught electronics ‘genius’ invents mobile phone-based vehicle anti-theft system Morris Mbetsa, an 18 year old self-taught inventor with no formal electronics training from the [...]

Comment from OMAR
11 August 2008 - 2:25 am - :

WoW , what an amazing thing , I thought about similar idea but for motorcycles , but I think this invention satisfies all my ideas , God bless him.

THANX

Comment from hooey
22 August 2008 - 2:17 am - :

I think it will not work. Because regular car anti-theft systems use complex coding and ciphering algorithms, otherwise a malefactor can intercept the radio signal and control the car.

Comment from If it Works in Africa, It Will Work Anywhere | White African
26 September 2008 - 1:54 am - :

[...] Morris Mbetsa – “Block & Track” auto anti-theft system [...]

Comment from News From Nowhere » PROXIMITY MAPPING
7 October 2008 - 12:01 am - :

[...] is called AfriGadget » Blog Archive » 18 year old self-taught electronics “genius” invents mobile……and they said: Morris Mbetsa, an 18 year old self-taught inventor with no formal electronics [...]

Comment from 18 Year Old Invents SMS-Based Car Anti-Theft System | Rocketboom
7 October 2008 - 10:16 am - :

[...] Rocketboom Field Correspondent Ruud Elmendorp speaks with Morris Mbetsa, the 18 year old inventor of a system that allows you to monitor your car via SMS. [...]

Comment from filhosh
9 October 2008 - 12:31 pm - :

good bro …. you are smart ass : )

Comment from Who’s Blogging About African Tech? - Appfrica
9 November 2008 - 3:40 pm - :

[...] Sample Content – 18 year old self-taught electronics “genius” invents mobile phone-based vehicle anti-theft syste… [...]

Comment from Social Media in Africa, Part 2: Mobile Innovations | thekevinpipe.com
13 November 2008 - 7:33 pm - :

[...] Kenya’s Mobile Planet made news in August when Google announced that they’d be investing in the mobile application start-up. Mobile Planet specializes in the development of wireless voice & data applications for mobile devices in Kenya, with a special focus on SMS-based products and services. Meanwhile, independent developers like Moris Mbetsa have repurposed mobile technology for all sorts of solutions like this anti-theft and tracking system for vehicles. [...]

Comment from Incubaker | Mobile Anti-theft in Africa
18 March 2009 - 8:27 am - :

[...] have recently started following a new blog, AfriGadget, a blog that follows innovations in Africa. Really neat stuff, and truly inspiring. They recently [...]

Comment from ray swaleh
27 July 2009 - 8:15 am - :

Hi bro
nice of you bro, its this time I met you an bro at mariakani 27th/07/2009 an felt proud of you good job
keep it up

Comment from pes2010
25 November 2009 - 1:25 am - :

Nice info..
thanks for sharing

Comment from AfriGadget » Blog Archive » A mobile phone security system for your car
23 August 2011 - 1:07 am - :

[...] off a car engine, via an SMS command from his cell phone. This is a lot like Morris Mbetsa’s anti-theft vehicle system using SMS of a couple years [...]

Comment from Kenyan Invention: A mobile phone security system for your car | Neu Afrika
5 September 2011 - 1:57 pm - :

[...] off a car engine, via an SMS command from his cell phone. This is a lot like Morris Mbetsa’s anti-theft vehicle system using SMS of a couple years [...]

Comment from Washington Mwamburi Maseghe
15 September 2011 - 9:39 pm - :

Congratulations Morris Mbetsa !
I am so happy that young Kenyans are becoming very innovative and future inventors. My name is Washington Mwamburi and I am in the Shipping and logistics company services in Mombasa, Kenya. Your mobile phone-based vehicle anti-theft system will help us track our new cars when they get stolen and better yet stop people from stealing our vehicles in the first place. I will definitely buy one of your products.

Thanks !

Comment from cheap auto jack
17 October 2011 - 1:32 pm - :

cheap auto jack…