The Lokata Company (pronounced low-kay-tah, "locator") was formed in the late 1970s in Falmouth, Cornwall, UK. The first product was a combined marine receiver and direction finder, for yachts and small boats. From there, the company designed and manufactured products for the marine electronics market, including communications receivers, Navtex receivers, radar detectors, transponders and emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs).[1]
On November 22, 1982, Lokata filed a patent application for its "Watchman", a passive marine radar detector. and spent £50,000 developing the system.[citation needed]
In 1983 a New Scientist article covered a story about the inventor of the Lokata product, the "Watchman", that he had independently re-invented part of the well-known Exocet missile's guidance system in his invention.[2] "Lokata had not realised that it was treading on a defence secret."[3] This led to some publicised controversy involving the MOD and the Patent Office[2] and thus prevented the firm to sell the gadget.
The Ministry of Defence tried to requisition the inventor's patent, but he defied the secrecy order and went public, and a public row arose about possible loss of employment making Lokata Watchmans in Falmouth, Cornwall where he lived.[citation needed]
In 2001, support for Lokata EPIRB products was transferred to Sartech Engineering Ltd.[4]
The company was acquired by Kelvin Hughes Ltd, and eventually moved to Hainault in Essex. Production of Lokata-branded products has ceased, as the company now concentrates on products for commercial shipping.[5] Thousands of Lokata products remain in use worldwide.[4]
Referencesedit
^Jim Howard, Charles J. Doane (2000). Handbook of Offshore Cruising: The Dream and Reality of Modern Ocean Cruising. Sheridan House, Inc. ISBN1-57409-093-3.
^Information, Reed Business (24 Mar 1983). New Scientist. 97 (1350): 804. ISSN 0262-4079 https://books.google.com/books?id=rJFMnSKa0S0C&q=Lokata+Company&pg=PA804. {{cite journal}}: |first1= has generic name (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
lokata, company, pronounced, locator, formed, late, 1970s, falmouth, cornwall, first, product, combined, marine, receiver, direction, finder, yachts, small, boats, from, there, company, designed, manufactured, products, marine, electronics, market, including, . The Lokata Company pronounced low kay tah locator was formed in the late 1970s in Falmouth Cornwall UK The first product was a combined marine receiver and direction finder for yachts and small boats From there the company designed and manufactured products for the marine electronics market including communications receivers Navtex receivers radar detectors transponders and emergency position indicating radio beacons EPIRBs 1 On November 22 1982 Lokata filed a patent application for its Watchman a passive marine radar detector and spent 50 000 developing the system citation needed In 1983 a New Scientist article covered a story about the inventor of the Lokata product the Watchman that he had independently re invented part of the well known Exocet missile s guidance system in his invention 2 Lokata had not realised that it was treading on a defence secret 3 This led to some publicised controversy involving the MOD and the Patent Office 2 and thus prevented the firm to sell the gadget The Ministry of Defence tried to requisition the inventor s patent but he defied the secrecy order and went public and a public row arose about possible loss of employment making Lokata Watchmans in Falmouth Cornwall where he lived citation needed In 2001 support for Lokata EPIRB products was transferred to Sartech Engineering Ltd 4 The company was acquired by Kelvin Hughes Ltd and eventually moved to Hainault in Essex Production of Lokata branded products has ceased as the company now concentrates on products for commercial shipping 5 Thousands of Lokata products remain in use worldwide 4 References edit Jim Howard Charles J Doane 2000 Handbook of Offshore Cruising The Dream and Reality of Modern Ocean Cruising Sheridan House Inc ISBN 1 57409 093 3 a b Defence ministry Exocets yacht radar New Scientist 803 1983 03 24 ISSN 0262 4079 Retrieved 2015 04 15 Information Reed Business 24 Mar 1983 New Scientist 97 1350 804 ISSN 0262 4079 https books google com books id rJFMnSKa0S0C amp q Lokata Company amp pg PA804 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a first1 has generic name help Missing or empty title help a b Sartech website Archived 2007 07 08 at the Wayback Machine David Searle Electronics Archived 2008 02 28 at the Wayback MachineExternal links edithttps web archive org web 20070708031447 http www sartech com about asp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lokata Company amp oldid 1156922388, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
