Historical Development and Current Application of GPS Trackers

GPS trackers have become an integral part of our lives, helping us navigate to our destinations, track our vehicles, and monitor the movements of our assets. The history of GPS tracking technology dates back to the 1960s when it was designed for military and intelligence applications during the Cold War. The global positioning system (GPS) consists of a network of satellites orbiting the earth at fixed points above the planet and beam down signals to anyone on earth with a GPS tracking device.

The first experimental Block-I GPS satellite was launched into space in 1978, made by Rockwell International. By the end of 1985, 10 satellites were in orbit, and the GPS system became fully operational for military use. However, it wasn’t until 1996 when President Bill Clinton launched GPS tracking devices into the public domain, making it accessible to everyone.

Today, GPS trackers have various applications, including vehicle tracking, asset tracking, personal tracking, and fleet management. GPS tracking systems for vehicles are widely used by businesses and individuals to monitor their vehicles’ movements, improve their fleet management, reduce fuel consumption, and lower idling costs. GPS tracking systems for assets are used to improve the security of valuable assets by keeping an eye on them at all times using portable asset trackers.

Personal GPS trackers are small tracking devices used to track the movements of Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients or children. Fleet tracking systems are used for fleet management featuring fuel tracking, location history, reports, driver id, and maintenance. GPS tracking systems for luxury cars are also available, providing real-time location tracking and monitoring.

Apart from these, GPS tracking systems are also used for temperature monitoring, driver behavior monitoring, and maintenance reminders. Temperature monitoring helps remotely monitor the temperature and humidity levels, and alerts can be set up to get notified of sudden changes. Driver behavior monitoring helps monitor which employee is driving which vehicle at all times and analyze and improve driver behavior. Maintenance reminders help set up reminders to get notified about MOT and vehicle services and improve maintenance routine.

GPS trackers have come a long way since their inception in the 1960s. Today, GPS tracking technology has become an essential part of our lives, helping us navigate to our destinations, monitor our vehicles, and track our assets’ movements. With various applications and functionalities, GPS trackers have proved to be a game-changer in the field of tracking technology.