WASHINGTON, July 4 -- Personal locator beacons (PLBs) became operational July 1 in the continental US, giving outdoor adventurers access to the same technology used in the lifesaving satellite-tracked distress alerts carried by aviators and mariners. The beacons emit a signal that can be tracked by a worldwide satellite search-and-rescue system when they are activated in an emergency. This signal is picked up by satellites operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The new personal beacons use global positioning system (GPS) technology, which makes it easier and...Read full articleRelated content from Photonics Media