A beacon is a sign that guides or gives a warning.
A beacon is a sign that, whether mobile or fixed, is installed in a location to provide a warning or with the intention of directing vehicle traffic . The act of signaling with beacons is called beaconing , while its result is called beaconing .
Beacons, in short, are elements that serve to warn of possible danger or risk . Most beacons emit light signals , although there are also beacons that are based on radio signals or ultrasound signals .
Examples of beacon
In the field of navigation, beacons are used to mark various issues and guide vessels. A lighthouse , for example, is a beacon that warns sailors about the proximity of the coast or an island .
Skyscrapers, television or radio antennas, and electricity transmission towers may also have beacons on their tops so that they are easily visible. In this way, airplane and helicopter pilots are warned about these structures and the risks of accidents are minimized.
The lighthouses have beacons to signal the proximity of the coast to sailors.
Its use in automobiles
In some countries , it is mandatory that cars have portable beacons inside so that, in the event of a mechanical failure on a road (route), the driver can signal accordingly, placing one beacon in front of the car and another behind.
The flashing light that warns about the car stopping is also called a beacon: "You go look for Andrés: I'll wait for you in the car at the school door, with the beacons on."
Beacons in orienteering races
The concept of a beacon also appears in the context of orienteering races , a sport that originated in Scandinavia and consists of timed courses carried out individually or in groups, in which each participant must have a compass and a map to find the way.
Along the route of an orienteering race, a series of checkpoints are placed through which the participants must pass (the latter must not know their location before the start of the competition). These points are marked with so-called orientation beacons and each runner can use a different route, using their own navigation methods.
Thanks to the use of a compass, competitors can plot their route to avoid passing the same point twice, unless they wish to do so. The most popular type of orienteering race is practiced on foot, although there are also bicycle, ski and kayak orienteering, among others.
In accordance with what is established by the International Orienteering Federation in its regulations, the orientation beacon is an element that is used to signal the controls and must have the shape of a rigid triangular prism covered in fabric. Each of the faces of the beacon must be square, with dimensions of 30 x 30 cm or 15 x 15 cm, depending on the characteristics of the playing space, and be divided into two triangles, one white and one orange.
Since the function of these beacons is to help runners locate themselves on the map , it is very important that they are in easily visible points and for this it is very useful to place them at a certain distance from the ground. Regarding the support , both an artificial element (such as a fence) and a natural element (a branch of a tree) can be used. The decision on the type of support for the beacon must be made according to the characteristics of the terrain at each particular point of the race; For example, while on a dirt floor it is common to drive a stake, on asphalt wooden structures called borriquetas are usually placed.