New directions in car safety and navigation

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What about PLBs or EPIRBs built into cars?

PLBs (or Personal Locator Beacons) have recently been approved for use within the United States. Why are we also not looking into integrating this technology into cars as well? This technology, in the form of EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) and ELTs (Emergency Locator Transmitters) has been available to pilots and boaters for years; the military has used it for decades. It is a proven technology, and PLBs at the very least are quite affordable. They operate on the 406 MHz satellite frequency, which is received by NOAA satellites in Low Earth Orbit or Geostationary orbit, and is transmitted directly to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC). The PLBs also includes a 121.5 MHz homing beacon, to make it easier for the rescuers to locate the transmitter. Many include inputs for GPS receivers, so that they can broadcast their exact location on the 406 MHz burst, making the 121.5 MHz beacon almost unnecessary.

This technology could be very successfully integrated into a vechicle's navigation system, using the already-onboard GPS to broadcast the vehicle's exact location. They are difficult to accidentally trigger, usually requiring two separate physical actions to activate, and at least one of those is protected by a seal which must be broken to activate, so chance of accidentally activating the beacon is unlikely.

My guess is that automakers see that system as unnecessary because if you have a GPS navigation system, you won't get lost in the first place. However, there are other situations that don't involve being lost (such as medical emergencies outside of cell coverage, being stranded outside of cellular coverage areas, etc) in which a PLB can save someone's life. My opinion is that this technology is inexpensive enough and important enough that it could be easily integrated into a vehicle and could go a long way to saving lives.

Posted by: schlice   Posted on: 12/14/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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