【Global Positioning System (GPS)】What is it? + Uses ▷ 2022

With the development of technology, there are numerous solutions that have emerged to simplify people’s day-to-day. Reason why, numerous terms have been adopted that cover an endless number of utilities that are optimal when putting a certain system into operation. Such is the case of the well-known geolocation system that uses the abbreviation “GPS”.

In general, users rely on this system that, via their smartphones or cars, allows them to locate a specific point on a map and get to any place, without even knowing the address. But although this is a widely used technology at the moment, the truth is that yet many are unaware of how GPS actually works.

That is why, in order to understand what GPS consists of and what it is for, we will detail this information of great interest below. It’s even worth it know its origin and its historythe aspects that intervene in your signal to offer precise results and to its scientific foundations. Which, you can find out here.

What is the GPS system and what is it used for in computing?

being the acronym for “Global Positioning System” which, in Spanish, means “Global Positioning System”GPS is defined as a satellite navigation system that allows determine the position of any object on the entire Earth. Which consists of a navigation system that works through a that has at least 24 satellites and are located on the planet at an altitude of approximately 20,000 km.

For its part, in computing, this global positioning technology has been induced on different devices and mobile phones, mainly. In this way, it is used to locate said equipment in case of theft, run certain applications that require this functionality, maximize the performance of games, reach a precise address when you travel by car, motorcycle, bicycle or even walking, etc.

In this sense, GPS has the ability to determine the location of any person, vehicle or thing, regardless of the speed at which it moves. In addition, it has the necessary characteristics to reveal data such as its height at any instant of time and its specific point within the terrestrial globe. Considering that, its accuracy is up to centimeters and that is why it is so effective.

What are the characteristics of GPS and what can be done with it?

To learn more about what GPS consists of, it is worth specifying What are its main characteristics. Therefore, first of all, it is worth noting that a gps It is composed of three elements that are: Satellites in orbit around the Earth, GPS receivers owned by users and ground control and monitoring stations. Thus, it is appreciated that GPS is made up of three different components or sectors, such as: Space Sector, User Sector and Land Sector.

Next, we specify what each of them is about:

• space sector: It is made up of 24 satellites arranged in a total of six orbits (4 satellites in each of them). Which travel around the planet at a height of 20,200 km and its speed of rotation is approximately one revolution around the Earth every 12 hours. Likewise, they follow a route with an inclination of 55 degrees with respect to the celestial Equator.
• user sector: It is made up of an antenna, an amplifier and a receiver. From these elements, the team is in charge of choosing the satellites that can provide it with the information required to determine the relevant position and measure the time between transmissions.
• land sector: It consists of a control sector that is in charge of correct the signal acquired through the satellites and, in addition, it improves the possible deviations of the orbit. Generally, it is made up of 9 stations (5 tracking, 3 data and 2 general).

Thanks to all this, GPS is distinguished by the following particularities, specifically:

• Useful life: 7.5 years.
• Altitude: 20,200 km.
• Period: 11 hours and 58 minutes (or 12 sidereal hours).
• Inclination: 55 degrees around the Earth’s equator.
• Hour: 1ns.
• User capacity: unlimited.
• Coverage: Worldwide.
• coordinate system: 8,000.

On the other hand, to characterize this recognized global positioning system, it is necessary to know its main applicationsbeyond its specific operation in the computing environment.

Therefore, below, we point out its most outstanding uses:

• military use: It is no secret to anyone that this has been the main GPS application. Since, many years ago, it was born as a tool to develop a system capable of provide the exact location of a person or object and even its speed. With this, it also allowed the development of radio navigation and weapons launch technologies towards a specific geographical situation.
• public and private security: In the field of security, the Global Positioning System also has multiple applications. Whether for anti-theft measures, as a personal security tool or its integration into alarms.
• Air, sea and land navigation: Although these tools were used by the military, the truth is that many of them ended up being used by civilians in different ways based on sea, air and land navigation.
• engineering and cartography: Of course, GPS is also used to collect accurate and reliable data from any point on the globe in order to carry out projects in this area. It also allows take measurementsmonitor what happens in large structures due to overloads in real time, detect seismic movements located at a certain point, etc..
• Sport: Along with its applications in computing, GPS is also widely used for sports. Since, Allows you to control the progression of certain workouts and thus, optimize performance with absolute precision by obtaining data such as the pace of the race, the distance covered, the delay time, etc.

History and Origin When was it created, who did it and how has GPS evolved?

Basically, the origin of GPS as a Global Positioning System dates back to the period between between the years 1957 and 1960. Since, since 1957, the first artificial satellite known as “Sputnik” released by the Soviet Union. Then, starting in the 1960s, the OMEGA land navigation system furthered this technology and became the world’s first navigational radio system.

However, the notable limitations of these systems produced the need to get a more universal navigation solution that could guarantee greater precision. From there, the United States Army began experimenting with a satellite navigation system to provide accurate and up-to-date position observations on your fleet systems.

In principle, said thought system had to meet global requirements in order to cover the entire surface of the Earth. Added to this, it was necessary for it to show continuous operation without being affected by atmospheric conditions and, as if that were not enough, it should also enable its use in aviation. Therefore, the basics of GPS correspond to a system: Global, continuous, dynamic and precise.

But, under these conditions, the “TRANSIT” system was born in 1964 which, three years later, became available for commercial and military use. Which, mainly, had a constellation of 6 satellites in low polar orbit and at a height of 1,074km. However, although it achieved globality, it was not constant. Because of this, the experts continued looking for other solutions to be able to fulfill the bases of a truly optimal Global Positioning System.

Given this, in 1967the US Navy propelled a satellite called Timation who managed to ensure the feasibility of placing precise clocks in space to thus, maintain the continuity necessary for GPS. Thanks to this, in 1973were able to combine the programs designed by the United States Air Force and Navy to foster a novel navigation technology project known as Navigation Technology Program. which was later renamed “NAVSTARGPS”.

So then they started develop another 11 satellites on an experimental basis to improve the performance of NAVSTAR with a total of 18 satellites planned. With this, in 1985manage to complete the current constellation and due to its remarkable constancy, dynamism and precision, they were able to declare it as a system with “full operational capacity” by adding 24 satellites with three alternates in 1993. With which, the famous GPS that we know today began.

How does the global positioning system work and how accurate is its data?

Regarding its operation, we highlight that the GPS satellites (24 in total) they are in charge of circulating the Earth twice a dayi.e. every 12 hours. Which, they do in an exact orbit to be able to transmit signal information to Earth.

GPS receivers then acquire this information and use triangulation or trilateration to measure or calculate the exact location of the user. Considering that, for this, said recipient focuses on compare the transmission and reception time around a signal transmitted by the satellite. Thus, you can find the position of the user to display it.

Therefore, through the process of trilateration, the position of the receptor can be discovered in the following way:

• each satellite of the set indicates that the receiver lies at a point on the surface of the sphere. Basically, centered on the satellite itself and a radius equal to the total distance from the receiver.
• After getting the data in question based on two satellitesthe result will be a circle that illustrates when the two spheres intersect at some point where the receiver is located.
• grounded on the information of a third satellite, the lack of synchronization between the clocks of the satellites and the GPS receivers is suppressed. With that, an exact 3D position is found based on latitude, longitude and altitude.

So, in a nutshell, the GPS receiver you will have to be connected to the signal of two or three satellites, at a minimum, to find the 2D position and motion of the track. Then, with yet another satellite in view, the receiver manages to calculate the 3D position of the user and thanks to this, you will also be able to compute other data of interest (speed, course, travel distance, distance to destination, runway, departure time, sunset, etc.).

Next we will see the accuracy of the data:

Now, surely, you will wonder how the Global Positioning System is accurate with respect to the information it provides. Therefore, we point out that GPS systems include some degree of random error…