GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, has become
an everyday necessity for people around the globe. While we pull up GPS apps on
our phones with ease, few people know how GPS works. Find out the science
behind your next road trip here.
What is GPS?
GPS is all about getting from point A to point B, but there
is so much more to it than just a route to follow. GPS might seem like
something that just lives in your car or your phone, but it’s actually a
satellite-based navigation system. These satellites work together to send a
location to a GPS receiver, and from there, it can send you directions to other
locations.
The Origins and Development of GPS
Originally developed for military purposes, and still
managed by the U.S. Air Force, GPS is now accessible for anyone. At its
inception, GPS only had 24 satellites orbiting. This number has increased to
32, which has aided in increasing location accuracy. Since its creation in
1973, GPS has undergone many changes to become the highly functional system
that it is today.
Trilateration and What it Does
In terms of how GPS works to find your location, you have
trilateration to thank for that. Trilateration is the process of determining
your location according to the intersection of spheres. These “spheres” are
generated by a satellite, with the satellite at the center. The GPS first
calculates its distance from one satellite, and then does the same for two
other GPS satellites. Once those are found, it determines the intersection
between the three spheres, giving users their location.
The Many Uses of GPS
Once a location is determined, there’s a whole host of
things GPS can do. With that position, GPS devices can determine sunrise and
sunset times, the honed-on location’s speed, and a user’s distance to their
destination. From timing to location purposes, there’s no end to all the ways
in which GPS is used. Pulling up a route in your car’s GPS may seem like a
simple enough task, but the science behind it is truly astounding. You have
those satellites above your head to thank for your smooth journey.