GPS pioneer, James Spilker, Jr., died at the age of 86. An adjunct professor of astronautics and aeronautics, he was a primary figure who developed the technology Global Positioning System (GPS). He was also a generous philanthropist.
During his long career, Spilker made many advances in technology, but what he might be best known for is his 1970s development of the GPS coarse/acquisition (CA) signals. Today, it’s the gateway for around four billion GPS users. And, the development of his “delay-lock loop” process in the early 1960s, became important to GPS accuracy.
After the launch of GPS, it assisted the U.S. military in improving its navigation and after that, contributed immensely to mobile mapping applications. Today, almost 50 years later, the GPS signals designed and proposed by Jim in the 1970s continue to be used in everything from banking to GPS tracking devices for parolees, Alzheimer’s patients and more to monitoring glaciers and tectonic plates.
Spilker was:
- Formally positioned in the Silicon Valley Engineering Hall of Fame
- Inducted to the Air Force GPS Hall of Fame
- Elected member of the National Academy of Engineering
He was a Fellow of the Institute of Navigation (ION) and a Life Fellow of the IEEE. As one of the GPS originators, he shared in the Goddard Memorial Trophy.
The Power of the American Global Positioning System (GPS)
Today, billions of individuals worldwide rely on a large engineering infrastructure that reaches out across the world and into space. It allows anybody with a smartphone to see precisely where they are on the planet, along with the exact time and is used in applications ranging from banking and aviation safety to locating and rescuing distressed ships. GPS, which is the planet’s first global satellite radio navigation system, made this possible.
NICB Announces 10 Most Stolen Cars in 2018
17 Dec 2019The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released it’s yearly report on November 19, 2019 on the 10 most stolen vehicles in the U.S.
The Honda Civic was the car most stolen in 2018 with over 38,000 stolen cars in 2017. The 1997 Honda Accord was the second most stolen car and coming in third place was the 2006 Ford pickup truck.
The report shows the 10 most stolen vehicles nationwide for 2018 were:
Porch pirates are out in force during all seasons. While the holidays present more tempting targets, there is no time of year that is safe from people out to steal packages left on porches across the country. Unfortunately, current arrest rates for these thefts are low. Even with the widespread use of surveillance cameras and Ring security monitors in place, less than 10 percent of reported thefts ever result in arrests.
Not Just a Big City Problem
You might be surprised to discover that rural states have the highest reported package theft instances with North Dakota leading the way. In fact, CNBC reports that North Dakota residents are 26 times more likely to have packages stolen.
Ultimately, thieves have discovered that fewer people are watching, or specifically looking out for package thieves, in small towns across the country or rural areas. That makes it easier for them to take the packages without being discovered.
How Agencies are Responding
In the past, law enforcement has seemed powerless to effectively stop thieves in their tracks, though some law enforcement agencies are taking a novel approach to address the rising problem of porch pirates in their communities, including Greenville, North Carolina’s police department is placing GPS trackers in random packages in an attempt to catch thieves in the act. However, the department has announced that the true goal is deterrence.
They’re not interested in catching a lot of thieves in the act, but rather to discourage the thefts in the first place. Perhaps that is why they are being open about their efforts ahead of time rather than stating their intentions afterward.
There are things the WBTW report suggests people do in order to reduce their risks of being targeted by package thieves, including:
- Require signatures for delivery.
- Having packages delivered to alternate locations, such as work or community management offices.
- Investing in doorbell cameras or whole home surveillance systems.
- Ask for Amazon packages to be delivered to your garage.
Many people are surprised to learn that remaining home on the day of delivery provides littler deterrence to thieves and little protection for the packages. As they remain bolder in their efforts to grab and go with your packages, it is becoming more and more difficult for law enforcement to prevent these thefts.
GPS tracking for law enforcement agencies to follow the packages, once stolen, and make arrests without other factors getting in the way.
