Engineering Ambassador Activities 2004-2005
Dr. Brad Parkinson visit and Stocker Lecture

Dr. Brad Parkinson, chief architect of the Global Positioning System, joined the Russ College Engineering Ambassadors for breakfast on November 5, 2004. He is best known for being the chief architect of the Global Positioning System (GPS). A professor at Stanford University since 1984, he is the chief investigator for many GPS research projects, including blind aircraft landings. Dr. Parkinson has won many prestigious awards, such as the 2003 Draper Prize, which recognized his leadership in the development of GPS. In 2004, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Dr. Parkinson talked with the Ambassadors about GPS’ different uses. He also talked about other uses being researched. For example, one of his students was able to make an airplane land using only GPS and no gyroscopes. Future uses include cell phones that show the speaker’s position on a map. The Ambassadors enjoyed with Dr. Parkinson and were glad to have the opportunity to meet such a prestigious engineer.