How a GPS Receiver Works

Global Position Satellites, or better known as GPS, has become a very popular electronic device. Years ago, it was rare people in society had them, but today almost everyone is familiar with a GPS receiver and the benefits it offers. GPS is steadily replacing maps for finding the right way. Can you imagine today's world without a GPS? I think it is one of the most popular inventions of the last years. Nowadays many people have them already installed in their car.

PURPOSE:
Finding the way to your destination is not always easy. It has happened to all of us at one point or another that we were driving for a long time and discovered we were lost. This often happens when driving a car, but it can also occur if you are taking a tour with your bicycle or during your walk.

A GPS can help you through this process to find the destination you want to reach. A GPS system is popular for people who are navigating in surroundings they are not familiar with or visiting attractions which are not easy to find. A GPS system shows you exact street names and will indicate to you immediately when you have to turn right or left. When you have a GPS system installed in your car, a voice will speak in the language you prefer and give the necessary instructions.

HOW A GPS WORKS:

A GPS receiver calculates the distance and how to get your destination in three steps:

1) The position of the satellites: a GPS receives the radio signals of the GPS satellites. Embedded in these radio signals are the calendar details which shows the position of the satellites. These details are stored in the memory of the GPS receiver. The correction position will be determinate with the help of a radar and compared with the calendar details.

2) Distance between satellite and receiver: radio signals move with the speed of the light, which is 300.000 km in one second. If you know the time the radio signal needs to reach the receiver it is easy to know the right distance. The radio signal shows the right time and the receiver compares this with the location of the satellites and the time it takes to reach the receiver.

3) Merging the distances of the different satellites: there are more than one satellite necessary to calculate the right distance, at least four. The more satellites available, the more accurate details you have. On average there is a deviation of 25 meters.

FUTURE OF GPS

The first GPS systems were launched in 1978; the future of GPS still looks great. Originally these systems were used for military applications but in today's world, the usage is expanded to new areas. According to a study done by the University of Minnisota Center of Transport, there will be more than 50 million GPS users in 2010.

The prices of GPS dropped a lot the last few years and I expect this trend will continue, but don't expect that this trend will never stop as a GPS can be bought for the same price as a mobile phone now. The greatest change in GPS systems will probably be that more applications will be integrated in more devices which are related to Internet connectivity.

It's possible a GPS Receiver can be used in the future for as well the features which are now possible for the more expensive models of mobile phones and expanded with features like preventions for a lost child or pet. The feature of a pet locator is now already available but it's possible this will be integrated in the standard models of the future. The future for GPS looks great and I expect that prices will stabilize within a few years and more and more applications will be integrated for the same price.

However, I can't predict the future, but I expect almost everyone will possess a GPS receiver within a few years with all the features the more expensive models of mobile phones now already have. As a result of improvement of the new technology, a GPS system expanded with Internet applications and digital photography will become one of the greatest inventions of the near future and nobody will ever lose the way!