The Global Positioning System - GPS is the most widespread global navigation system in use. Almost every phone today is equipped with a GPS receiver, not to mention cars and their built-in navigation.
A GPS satellite
The system itself consists of three parts - the constellation of satellites in orbit, and the control stations on the ground, which monitor and track them. The third, most obvious part is the user’s receiver.
To determine its location, the receiver needs the signal from at least 4 satellites, though additional ones will improve precision. After measuring the distance to each of the satellites, exact position can be determined.
Apart from providing location, GPS can also be used as a very precise time source - thanks to atomic clocks onboard the satellites, a receiver can get a time accurate to about 100ns.
Also, a fact that is not widely known, every GPS satellite ever launched is equipped with a nuclear detonation detection system.
A typical GPS receiver module, complete with an antenna
Currently a typical (non-military) GPS receiver has a precision of a few meters. This makes smooth road navigation possible. However, until May 1st, 2000, the USA were encoding the signal, thus limiting the civilian users to a maximum of about 100 meter precision.
Talking about military, for a GPS receiver to be freely sold it has to satisfy a few limits, which are meant to prevent them from being used in self-guided rockets or planes. Namely, a receiver must not work when moving over 1800km/h, or when it’s altitude exceeds 18 kilometers.
Most of us use GPS either through a smartphone app or a standalone car navigation. A multitude of choices is available on the market for both of those, each offering different features. Still, the civilian GPS use is not limited to navigation per se - other common uses include for example clock synchronization, pet tracking or cartography.
1. Do you use GPS (for example in a smartphone) frequently?
2. Did your navigation ever fail you?
3. What is your map software of choice?
1. Do you use GPS (for example in a smartphone) frequently?
ReplyDeleteAs I might not be using it everyday, I'm certain that the device uses it everyday by itself. I hate that it's staring at me all the time.
2. Did your navigation ever fail you?
Navigation - no. Humans do. Nothing else. Computers make whatever we make them do. If there is an engineer that did make a mistake - it's not a faulty device.
3. What is your map software of choice?
Yanosik for obvious reasons and (chocolate) and Automapa. I wish they have mated already as I need both of them at the same time.
Yes i use very often. From navigation to apps like sport trackers.
ReplyDeleteGPS never fail me course, but simple navigation without access to the Internet often.I prefer google maps when I need to get somewhere because they are most accurate now.
As i said before maps from google are the best in my opinion because they are built by users every time they use it.
@armandstanczak
ReplyDeleteSure, sure, but it's much easier to ask that instead of "Did you ever experience the effects of a mistake made by an engineer who designed the device or software you were using to navigate, or perhaps had trouble finding your way because of outdated data used by the said software". Well, did you?
@przemekM
High five, I like google maps as well. Especially for their neat real-time traffic indication (it's actually based on how fast other people using their maps are moving) and quick updates. We were driving to Siedlce a few months ago and came across a roundabout that was not on the map (it looked fairly new as well). Yet when we took the same route a few weeks later - the maps were already updated.
1. Do you use GPS (for example in a smartphone) frequently?
ReplyDeleteYes, for example throught jakdojade.pl
2. Did your navigation ever fail you?
I don't think so, that I could name it "fail", but once navigation choosed more complcated road for me to get somewhere, beacuse for my navi it was the fastest way.
3. What is your map software of choice?
google's maps or jakdojade.pl - when I want to use the public transport.
1. Do you use GPS (for example in a smartphone) frequently?
ReplyDeleteNope, I always use jakdojade.pl to check and remember how to get where i want.
2. Did your navigation ever fail you?
Nope, never.
3. What is your map software of choice?
I don't use anything when I am already outside.
1. When I don't know how to get somewhere or use an app to check bus departures from the nearest bus stop, then I use my smartphone's GPS.
ReplyDelete2. As I recall, it did happen once or twice.
3. Definitely Google Maps app.
1. Do you use GPS (for example in a smartphone) frequently?
ReplyDeleteYeah I travel a lot, it really helps. But never forget classic map.
2. Did your navigation ever fail you?
Of course but its better and better.
3. What is your map software of choice?
Actually I use windows navigation. Its alright.