Did you know that GPS navigation systems are so sophisticated that they can locate you at any point on earth? While this may not be true for every GPS system, the more you are willing to pay, the more technology has to offer.
You can purchase a service that helps to locate off-the-grid workers at any point on the globe using specialized satellite systems.
But how does a satellite navigation system work?
Whether GNSS or GPS systems are being used, navigation applications continue to expand every year using sophisticated technology.
In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about how navigation and positioning measurements work and how the satellite navigation system operates to keep you safe.
Satellite Navigation System Basics
Ultimately the purpose of a GPS system is to be a receiver. When most people refer to a GPS model they are usually referring to the receiver. The receiver works to locate four or more satellites that are circling in the sky.
The navigation system industry has installed 27 satellites that orbit the earth constantly. This was primarily developed by the United States military.
Ultimately, the military then opened it up to everyone else for public use.
Each of the satellites circles the globe at approximately 12,000 mph. Each satellite rotates two times around the earth every day. The orbits were designed in a special way so that there are always four satellites visible in the sky at any point.
The goal of the GPS receiver is to locate four or more satellites and use that information to determine its own position on the earth. If you want to know about more complex satellite technologies, you can find more here.
Trilateration
Trilateration is a term that refers to the ability of a GPS receiver to determine its position from satellite information. 2D trilateration will help to determine the distance between you and a particular point.
For example, you might be 500 miles from Nashville Tennessee. However, you don’t know which direction you would need to go to get to Nashville.
If someone else tells you that you are also 100 miles from Knoxville, Tennessee, you have a much better sense of where you are specifically. Thus adding additional data points helps to improve accuracy.
The same concept also applies to a three-dimensional construct. Ultimately, this is how GPS works to determine your exact positioning including altitude. With 3D trilateration, you’ll be able to precisely pinpoint exactly where you are on the globe and in the sky.
Using a Satellite Navigation System for Your Needs
At the end of the day, every satellite navigation system works using similar principles. The goal is to identify the position of the receiver in relation to four or more satellites that are navigating the earth at massive speeds. Using this information, the receiver can calculate its exact position and altitude.
To read more on topics like this, check out the Travel category
Leave a Reply