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'Big Brother' looks out for hijackers

20th July 1973, Page 34
20th July 1973
Page 34
Page 34, 20th July 1973 — 'Big Brother' looks out for hijackers
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• An anti-hijacking system which Design Controls Inc of Westbury, New York, designed and manufactured for the Nelson Distribution Corporation, provides, it is claimed, by far the most sophisticated electronic coverage yet known to the trucking industry. The system includes an anti-hijacking ignition de-activator and a specialized two-way radio system to remotely control vehicles.

The system consists of a radio and a digital pulse tone control box which is installed in each vehicle. Nelson's truck dispatcher is in constant voice contact with the truck. The tone control is connected directly into the engine and indicates via radio signals to home base the status of that truck and /or its engines.

When the truck is started, a radio signal is sent to the base station indicating the truck number and code "zero". If, during the truck's run, any truck door is opened, an automatic signal is sent back to the base station with the truck number and the code "one", which indicates a break in one of the doors. Upon receiving the signal, the agent on duty can stop that trucks engine by sending a radio signal into the digital pulse tone control, and the truck can only be restarted by sending other signals from the base station.

ir the dispatcher on duty receives a code "one" signal. and does not desire to immobilize that vehicle, the code "one" would repeat itself eight times, for a total of two minutes, after which the engine would stop automatically.

When the engine does stop, an automatic signal is sent back to the base station with the truck number and code "two". Again, the truck must be restarted by a signal from the base station. Index cards at the dispatcher's console show when the truck left and the route it was to follow, so that its location can be virtually pinpointed, and in the event of trouble, police can be on the scene in minutes.

This unique anti-hijacking system, which is operational for a range of 80 miles and expandable to cover the entire country, has already saved Nelson Distribution nearly S 300,000 a year. Nelson Distribution is one of the biggest garment trucking firms in the New York City area.

The Instant Action Control Centre is located in the firm's headquarters in Secaucus, New Jersey, in a room that looks like the inside of a space capsule. Each of the company's 250 trucks radios its position every five minutes. If a truck's doors open, the truck is immobilized from headquarters and no one else can start it. And if the hijackers hold the driver, the company can follow the truck by helicopter.


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