The recent loss of my bike has me thinking. What if there were a LoJack for bikes? The LoJack’s promise is that if your vehicle is stolen, a transmitter alerts police to the whereabouts of the stolen vehicle before it can be chopped up or damaged.
Given the size of electronic components today (there’s a GPS module for my cell phone, for example) here’s what I envision.
In the seat tube, a cylindrical case contains one of two options, perhaps both if they’re not too hard to do. One is a tamper or movement warning. When the bike is locked up, the owner uses a keyring transceiver to activate a motion sensor. The bike from that time cannot be moved without either sounding an alarm — useful if there are people about to deter a thief — or send an “I’ve been moved” signal to the owner.
The second option would be a LoJack-style tracking system that would send GPS coordinates to the authorities, to be monitored as soon as a bike is reported missing or stolen.
As I checked the LoJack website for a refresher on how their system works, I see they’re already working on this, but just for cars.
Introducing the LoJack Early Warning Recovery System. The auto security system that lets you know if your vehicle has been moved without your permission.
* It provides an added layer of protection on top of the LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System to give you peace-of-mind.
* It enables the police to track and recover your stolen vehicle sooner.
* You carry a personal LoJack Early Warning Key Pass that sends a signal to the LoJack Early Warning Recovery System confirming that you are an authorized driver.
* It alerts you to check on your vehicle no matter where you are- at work or traveling.
* You choose how you want to be contacted – phone, e-mail or alpha pager.
* If you confirm your vehicle has been stolen, you contact the police and they will activate LoJack.
Given that the units for cars are the size of a deck of cards, it doesn’t seem impossible or unreasonable to think this would be useful for bikes, motorcycles, scooters, etc.
Update Oct 5, 2012: This is an excellent proof of concept. Interesting to see how primitive the technology was 9 years ago, to say nothing of my understanding of it. Now in the days of Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone and FitBit, I imagine a seat-tube mounted locating system would be simple. Sure, these things can be defeated but as with car prowling and pickpocketing, it’s all about getting away undetected. If that bike you just boosted lets out a howl 120 dB howl while it radios its location and course to the owner and the local PD (via Twitter, even), maybe you just drop it and exit the way you came in — on foot.
Update 2, April 8, 2013: this kickstarter project looks a lot what I wished for 10 years ago. I’m not saying they cribbed my idea, I’m more pleased that something like it is actually happening.