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Global Pedalling Service
Page 66
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Using GPS to keep track of sponsored cyclists Every sensible transport operator likes to keep track of its trucks and trailers and, as a consequence, its drivers, and many will use GPS tracking systems to do this.
But GE's TIP Trailer Services has taken a novel approach to keeping tabs on the company's national accounts manager Luc Kergoat.
Luc has been fitted with a tracking device from the GE VeriWise trailer tracking system -or at least his rucksack has -as he takes part in Transaid's 'Cycle Kenya" event.
It allows anyone who has sponsored him for the charity event, or in fact anyone who is interested in the event in Kenya, to monitor his progress via the internet during the nine-day ride.
Luc and 20 other participants, including BBC Radio 2's Sally "Traffic" Boazman, are cycling more than 400 km across Kenya's Rif/ Valley in order to raise money for Transaid.
The tracking device on Luc's rucksack is the same as those fitted in the Von Wise system and is sending back messages via satellite four times a day.
Can vehicles really drive themselves and 'think' like a human to avoid hazards? Well some people with toe much time on their hands and probably too much money to spend have staged a race between 'intelligent' vehicles in a challenging urban environment. The vehicles had to tackle a variety of tasks without hitting anything and this wasn't a stunt in a carpark: the race lasted 60 miles.
But. for now at east, we humble humans trying to scratch a living out of road transport need not worry toe much about our jobs. Some of the brainy vehicles crashed into walls or each other, and those few that did complete the distance managed an average speed of just 14mph, Maybe some of this technology could be transferred into current vehicles to make them safer by helping drivers assess the dangers they face, but trucks that drive themselves will be a good while coming and will no doubt not be anywhere near as good as the drivers we have on the roads today.