Evolution Of Global Positioning Systems (gps)

In 2010, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are used for a wide variety of gadgets and programs. They range from consumer focussed devices such as route-mapping for drivers through to climate and earthquake research and of course aircraft and shipping navigation. GPS has come a long way from its initial roots in the 1960’s. It was originally designed to aid the US during the Cold War.

Essentially it is a network of satellites that rotate the Earth at established points. They project down information signals which contain a time code and geographical data. This data is then captured by GPS navigation systems and therefore empowers the user to define their exact location, speed and time.

If we are going to get more technical, there are only 24-32 operating satellites at any one time. If one satellite dysfunctions or emits a faulty signal; the reading will be cancelled out due to the comparative readings by the additional satellites.

The satellites are placed in a “constellation” at a distance of at least 20,000 km above the Earth but at no more than 35,000 km. This means that they a medium Earth orbit system. TV, communication, Internet and geostationary (weather) orbit satellites have an altitude of 35,000 km.

It is free for anyone to access the system with no subscription or management fees. However one must have a GPS device. Generally, a receiver device has an antenna which is tuned into the frequencies transmitted by the satellites. In turn this picks up the signal and then through the receiver-processor it will display the user’s precise location and time

As previously mentioned the GPS was and still is managed by the Department of Defence in the USA. At first it was only used specifically for the US military but an event in 1983 changed all that. A Korean Air Lines Flight strayed into the USSR's prohibited airspace. The Soviet shot the plane down and killed all 269 people on board. The US President at the time, Ronald Reagan issued a directive to make GPS freely available for civilians to avoid such future disasters. It was Reagan’s decision that followed this terrible accident that has led to GPS becoming an integral part of everyday life.

GPS technology is still used by the military as well as the transportation, science, and agriculture industries. In fact farmers have found creative uses for GPS on their tractors. By installing a GPS system on a tractor a field can be autonomously tilled, sprayed, harvested, or planted.

It has even evolved for leisure past-times such as geocaching, which is essentially a game of high-tech hide and seek. Participants use a GPS receiver to find or hide containers all over the world. The development and popularity of GPS twinned with the reduced cost of the receivers means that it will continue to evolve and shape our everyday lives.

By: Joe Wareham

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Joe Wareham is a GPS enthusiast, with particular interest in Navman GPS systems and windows mobile pda devices.