Abstract: A housing holds a microprocessor, a power management system, a pair of communication modules, multiple internal antennas, and a plurality of sensors and interfaces. The housing is connected to a mobile object. One of the communication modules connects to a GPS system through one of the antennas. The other communication module connects to a mobile cellular network or a radio or satellite system through the other antennas. The microprocessor uses the GPS system to determine the position of the object; frequency with which locational fixes are stored is user-determined. The microprocessor can be interactively reprogrammed via the mobile cellular network and creates a data structure for transmission of locational and other environmental data through the mobile cellular or other networks. The microprocessor has the ability to command the unit to separate from the object at an appropriate time to facilitate recovery.