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By Greg Bartlett

GPS trackers have always been perfect for vehicles. A car‘s size, value, and inherent mobility make it ideal for owners to install some sort of tracking system. Individuals and companies can of course put the location and speed data to good use. The protection, accountability, and assurance provided by a GPS tracker are invaluable to keeping both personal and corporate property secure. But what if specialized GPS technology could act directly to keep the driver safe, as well?

GPS & Accident Prevention

In a press release on October 13th, a research team at Auburn University announced a project whose goal was to create a GPS tracker that would collect data from a vehicle’s internal sensors and run it through a computer algorithm which can predict roll or side-slipping. GPS satellites would provide location and speed data as well, and the vehicle would notify the driver if his or her driving was particularly dangerous. The GPS data would also be used by the vehicle to improve its own stability control system.

The project is being funded by Ford Motor Company, who hopes to produce prototypes of the GPS trackers and the accompanying sensor technology soon. Said Ford vice president of research Gerhard Schmidt, “A satellite orbiting the earth could someday prevent an auto accident. We applaud the Auburn team for these advancements and look forward to working together on the next phase of this research, including developing prototype vehicles.”

The effort highlights the ability of trackers and other GPS-enabled technology to increase the safety of drivers and their passengers. The accuracy of these devices is improving all the time, and as the government and other interests continue to bolster the existing GPS network, the capacity for higher volumes of communications traffic will only increase. This in turn will spur additional research into a wide variety of applications. Simple safety notifications and distributed tracking data is only the tip of the iceberg.

GPS trackers have come extremely far in terms of adaptability and integration to existing vehicle systems. Researchers are continually finding new ways in which to use the highly precise data to aid companies and individuals who wish to keep tabs on the use of their vehicles. Whether you’re a parent trying to encourage safe driving habits in your teen, or a fleet manager attempting to provide cost savings through a more efficient logistics system, GPS trackers can be your next best friend in the car.