Automobile GPS: A Guide from Up Above
The thought of getting lost is most often associated with fear and to some
absurd extent with adventure. With the surge of automobile GPS, the word "lost"
will never be part of our modern navigation in the urban jungle!
Satellite network, the backbone of automobile GPS, was primarily utilized by
military as offensive and counteroffensive armament. The strategic importance of
GPS is emphasized on guiding cutting edge weapons such as missiles in accurately
locating their targets. In addition, automobile GPS is a tool to track specific
positions of the military troops.
Later on, usage of GPS technology such as automobile GPS became beneficial to
different kinds of travelers. Major carriers such as airplanes, ships, trucks
together with everyday enthusiasts such as mountain climbers and glider pilots
are raking the benefits of GPS technology. Even in competitions by glider pilots
and geocachers, GPS technology is slowly creeping in as a monitoring instrument.
Together with other modern technologies, GPS is currently targeting the
mainstream market. With the success on automobile GPS, tie-up in the mobile
phone industry is the next best deal. Standard to latest cellular phones are GPS
signal emitters, making it possible to track the caller in case of emergency or
monitoring children. Even for earthquakes, atomic clocks are utilized to monitor
slight movement on earth’s land.
While many gadgets such as automobile GPS devices are becoming household items,
many are not very familiar how this thing exactly works. NAVSTAR, the American
GPS system, has three or four satellites in a network covering almost all points
of earth. Aside from NAVSTAR, there is also GLONASS, which is owned by Russia.
Each satellite operates in an efficiently complex manner. It revolves around the
earth twice a day at the altitude of 12,600 miles. Every twelve minutes, it
automatically validates all information gathered and sends it to one of the five
monitoring stations installed. Consequently, these monitoring stations compile
all information gathered, analyze, and update any changes in the system
including the synchronization of atomic clocks
Now every time you access your automobile GPS, take time to appreciate the
complex process used to rescue us in our desperate moments and be grateful for
all its benefits. Indeed, heaven is watching us... |
