STATE COLLEGE, Pa., June 26 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they have created a computer-based system that monitors parked automobiles, immediately detecting a theft.
Penn State University Assistant Professor Sencun Zhu, Associate Professor Guohong Cao and Frostburg State University Assistant Professor Hui Song developed the system that signals its presence to other cars and a central computer whenever it enters a parking area.
Each car periodically sends a signal indicating its continued presence, the researchers said. When the driver unlocks the car, a sensor sends a "goodbye" message to the network.
If a car leaves the network without issuing a goodbye message, other cars will notice and a monitoring sensor sends a signal identifying the stolen car to the central computer, which phones the owner (or police officials) to indicate the car is missing.
"Our thought is that (an) apartment complex owner could provide the sensors with the parking stickers as an additional free perk," Zhu said. "All they need is the base unit, the car owner's phone number and the sensors in the car for the car should be safe in the lot."
The system was presented earlier this year during the annual Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineer's Infocom Conference in Phoenix.
