People worldwide depend on GPS devices to tell locations, velocity, and time. According to research, the GPS market size is expected to grow to $146.4 billion by 2025, rising at a CAGR of 18.4%.
But only a fraction of users can answer the question of “How does GPS work?” Most people know that the tracking device has become part of daily life but can’t explain how it does the job.
This article explores the basic functioning of a GPS tracker. Scroll down to understand what happens to make your smartphone accurate on the direction and how your tracking device leads you to your lost pet.
What Is a GPS?
A GPS (Global Positioning System) is a satellite-based navigation system. It entails at least 24 satellites that orbit the earth on six Earth-centered planes.
Each plane contains four solar-powered satellites revolving at 20,000km (13,000 miles) above the earth and a speed of 14,000 km/h (8,700mph).
A GPS contains three functional systems. The satellites, located in space, are responsible for sending signals regarding time and geographical position to the receivers.
The ground stations also include a system of earth-based master control stations, monitor stations, and ground antennas. They track and control the satellites and monitor transmissions.
The receivers are the last part of the system. They constantly listen and pick transmissions from the satellites. Watches and smartphones are examples of receivers.
How Does GPS Work?
GPS uses the trilateration technique to calculate an object’s location, time, and velocity. This technique uses signals from the satellites to calculate the different constants.
Each satellite sends unique signals, orbital parameters, and time to a tracking device situated close to or on the earth’s surface. The GPS tracker then reads and interprets the information.
The GPS tracking device needs to read signals from at least four satellites and know their distance.
While three satellites are enough to determine a device’s location on the earth’s surface, a fourth satellite is helpful for information validation. Also, the additional satellite moves the whole system to a third dimension. Thus, you can calculate the altitude of your device.
A tracking device can take signals from six or more satellites at any given time. Every satellite sends a microwave signal that the GPS device picks and uses to calculate its distance to the satellite.
GPS Devices Need Multiple Satellites for Accuracy
A single satellite can’t provide sufficient location information. That’s because a GPS device only offers information about the distance from the satellite.
Additionally, the satellites contain no information about angles. Hence, the GPS device could be anywhere on the surface area of the sphere.
A satellite sends signals in circles, with a radius from the GPS device to the satellite. If you add another satellite, the location narrows down to one or two points of the circles’ intersection. A third satellite brings it to the point where the three loops meet.
Given that the world is three-dimensional, each satellite produces a sphere (not a circle). Thus, three spheres intersect at two points. The point nearest to the earth is often the accurate location.
The GPS devices are sufficiently accurate. But, factors like bad weather and satellite positioning can affect the accuracy of the whole system.
A crpa can help you protect your tracking device from jamming and other interferences.
GPS for Daily Life
GPS devices are essential tools for real-time tracking. Hospitals, military camps, and fitness institutions all depend on GPS for different functions. Answering the question, “How does GPS work?” will help you explore the devices’ capabilities exhaustively.
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