Tracking devices have become the mainstay of current electronic device technology. From global positioning to RFID, most electronic devices today can be easily equipped with small radio relay devices that can track the location and movements of that device at all times. This tracking technology does not just go into devices, but can also be implanted into or placed on several other non-mechanical or electric bodies, such as commercially packaged products, wild animals, domestic pets, and even people.
In mechanical engineering, the term Six Degrees of Freedom refers to the movement of a mechanical body in three dimensional spaces that can move up and down, left and right, backward and forward, as well as tilting forward, turning to the side and rolling side to side. In software device engineering, 6 Degree of Freedom devices (6-DOF) refer to devices that can track an individual’s unique body movements in order to pinpoint their exact location on a map.
These devices are used in corollation with Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in order to keep tabs on certain items such as animals, or persons. Global Positioning Systems are based on a series of satellites that pick up specific locations of electronic devices (GPS Enabled devices) and relays back their exact location on a grid map of the earth.
Many large retail companies such as Walmart have started a wide scale implementation of RFID tags to track the location of their product inventory. RFID stands for Radio Frequency ID. RFID tags are very small chips that are placed on a palette of items in a warehouse, or even on individual items. Each item’s RFID tag uniquely identifies it and broadcasts a signal within a small range over a radio frequency that can be tracked by devices designed for cataloging RFID tagged inventory. In the few years since Walmart has been using this technology in their warehouses, they have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in warehouse efficiencies and loss prevention.
Car rental companies have started employing tracking technology in its cars that help them keep track of all of their automotive fleet. In addition to knowing the GPS location of their vehicles, they are also able to track things such as mileage and average speed that can be used for generating fines if need. They can also use this tracking technology to ensure they are alerted if their cars pass state borders, for instance, or other areas explicitly forbidden in the terms of agreement with the renter. Not only do these tracking technologies save the rental car company in insurance fees, this also helps to keep their cars from being stolen and helps keep drivers safe by letting them know their speed is being tracked, thus deterring reckless driving.
Scientists have used tracking devices to manage wild animal populations for years, but now pet owners are beginning to use the same kind of technology to find their lost pets. With the advent of near microscopic RFID tags, tracking devices can be placed subcutaneously, that is, beneath the skin, of your pet by your local veterinary clinic. Many people have found this enormously useful to find their lost cat or dog in the past ten years.
This same RFID tracking technology can also be used in humans. Some parents choose to place an RFID tag in their children in order to keep them safe in the case of a kidnapping or some other situation where they become lost. Some high level government positions in some countries are actually required to have tracking devices installed on their bodies due to the high risk of kidnapping.
Author Bio: The post is shared by Michael Clark. He is a freelance writer and guest blogger. His recent articles on satellite truck tracking made him a popular guest blogger among his readers. Whenever free, he spends time with his pets.