Uses of GPS
GPS (Global Positioning System) is a navigation system that makes use of a network of satellites to pinpoint the location of an object. It was originally created and used for military applications by the United States, however the system was made available for the use of civilians during the 1980s. Today, it has become indispensable to several industries from shipping to trucking, and is utilised by all sorts of people from aircraft pilots to bike messengers. The system provides its users with navigation, positioning, and timing services. It is composed of three segments: space, control, and user.
Two of the segments, namely space and control, are maintained and operated by the United States Air Force. The space segment is made up of about 24 satellites that transmit the one-way signals, which gives its present GPS position and time. Meanwhile, the control segment is composed of monitor and control stations all over the world which maintain the proper orbits of the satellites through the adjustment of the satellite clocks and the transmission of command manoeuvres. These stations also track the satellites, upload the latest navigational information, and maintain the constellation of the satellites. The user segment, for its part, consists of the GPS equipment that receives the signals from the satellites and uses this information in the calculation of a user's time and position.
Both military personnel and civilians can use the service provided by the GPS satellites. The service for civilians is available for free on a worldwide scale, while the service for military use is restricted to certain armed forces and government agencies. However, the basic GPS service for civilians can be enhanced through a number of techniques and systems in order to improve the availability of the signal as well as its integrity and accuracy.
Today, GPS is used by ships and aeroplanes to safely navigate through the oceans and skies. The system has also become an important tool for companies who employ a fleet of vehicles to make deliveries to their clients. Finally, even drivers with no sense of direction can now make their way to a destination through the use of this wonderful technology.
