subject: The history of satellite navigation [print this page] The history of satellite navigation The history of satellite navigation
Only ten years ago, you needed to plan your route ahead to be certain that you knew how to get to the places you wanted to go. Satellite navigation units in cars have changed that.
The abnormal voices of these units are the frequent topic of comical jokes performed by comedian acts who it seems don't understand simply how essential satellite navigation units have developed to become to normal people and organizations all over the world.
Ordinarily known as GPS within the States owing to their dependence upon global positioning satellites to isolate a car's location as well as the location of the intended destination, drivers within the United Kingdom normally declare that their automobiles are fitted with sat-nav.
Despite of theweather or other situations, if your car can be detected by over four of the various satellites orbiting the earth, GPS can identify your location and help you to your destination.
The equipment to make Satellite navigation achievable has been evolving for a while. By and large, the technology and satellites used in GPS navigation can be by some means traced to the U.S. government, but more or less every Space Age nation on the earth is involved in helping our cars know exactly where they are and where they are going.
The original hopes of global positioning information being made obtainable to the public occured in 1989 after an executive order by American President Ronald Reagan -- long before the technology utilised had even developed to the position where it was achievable. As soon as it was ready, the highest quality signals were held in reserve for the armed forces to use, however a 2000 order by President Bill Clinton allowed free of charge public access to exact positioning information, opening the road for sat-nav in automobiles and for other civilian functions of this satellite positioning technology.
A multitude of devices at the moment are offered which can get GPS signals and help you to your destination. Many are able to be used when outside the car -- for example on a hiking excursion -- and subsequently used in a car with a mounting unit. The majority of newer automobile models have the option of factory- installed gps panels that have bigger screens and extra features than many handheld versions. The displays may also offer weather and further information to the driver if GPS systems aren't being used.
In recent years, attention has been focused on ensuring that older GPS infrastructure apparatus won't stop working, leaving now-dependent government, company and personal users left in the dark.
Once criticized for inaccurate information and tortuous routes, the most recent generations of automobile-mounted satellite navigation units are the most precise ever. With less and less exceptions, they are able to locate places precisely.
You do however still need to know what your destination is!.
