What is GPS, complete information about the GPS system

What is GPS, complete information about the GPS system

Friends, in our daily life all of us have become familiar with the word GPS these days. But do we know what is GPS, how does GPS work and do you know more information about GPS technology?

GPS Global Positioning System is a satellite based navigation system that provides location and time information. The system is freely accessible to everyone with a GPS receiver and unobstructed vision for at least four GPS satellites.

A GPS receiver calculates its position by precisely timing the signals sent by the GPS satellites. GPS is widely used nowadays and has also become an integral part of smart phones.

So friends, let's know more about GPS in this article.

Let us tell you that the full form of GPS is Global Positioning System.

What is GPS?

Friends Global Positioning System (GPS – Global Positioning System), originally known as Navstar GPS, is a satellite based radionavigation system. GPS is owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force.

GPS is basically a constellation of 24 or more satellites that fly 20,350 km above the Earth's surface. Each of the satellites orbits the planet twice a day in one of six orbits to provide continuous, worldwide coverage.

The GPS Global Positioning System operates independently of any telephonic or Internet reception. GPS provides vital positioning capabilities to military, civilian and commercial users around the world. And friends, the best part is that it is freely available to everyone with a GPS receiver. For example in our smartphones, the GPS chips used act as GPS receivers.

No citizen has to pay any fee to use GPS, it is completely free.

Who invented GPS?

So friends, GPS was invented by the following people:

1. Roger L. of the Naval Research Laboratory. Easton ( Roger L. Easton )

2. Ivan A. Getting of The Aerospace Corporation

3. Bradford Parkinson of the Applied Physics Laboratory

How does GPS work?

So friends, at this stage a question may come to your mind – who monitors the total 24 satellites as part of the overall GPS constellation?

The GPS Master Control Station tracks satellites through the Global Monitoring Network and manages satellite health on a daily basis. Ground antennas send data updates and operational commands to satellites around the world.

Let's know in 4 simple steps how GPS Global Positioning System actually works:

Let us now learn about the history and timeline of the development of GPS technology:

The GPS project was initiated by the US Department of Defense in 1973.

The first prototype spacecraft for GPS was launched in 1978.

GPS was originally limited to use by the United States military. However, following an executive order from President Ronald Reagan, civilian use was permitted from the 1980s onwards.

By December 1993, GPS had achieved initial operational capability (IOC – Initial Operational Capability), with a full constellation (24 satellites) available and providing Standard Positioning Service (SPS).

During the 1990s, GPS quality was degraded by the United States government in a program called "Selective Availability".

In 1996, recognizing the importance of GPS to civilian users as well as military users, US President Bill Clinton issued a policy directive declaring GPS to be a dual-use system and to manage it as a national asset. A GPS Executive Board was constituted for the

According to a law signed by President Bill Clinton on May 1, 2000, the "Selective Availability" facility was closed.

In 2004, United States President George W. Bush updated the national policy and replaced the Executive Board with the National Executive Committee for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing.

In November 2004, Qualcomm announced a successful trial of assistive GPS for mobile phones.

In 2005, the first modernized GPS satellite was launched and began broadcasting a second civilian signal (L2C) for better user performance.

On September 14, 2007, the old mainframe-based Ground Segment Control System was transferred to the new architectural development plan.

On February 12, 2019, the four founding members of the project were awarded the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering.

GPS segment and structure.

So friends, let us tell you that based on the current structure of GPS, there are three major sections which are as follows:

1. Space Segment – ​​GPS satellites revolve around the Earth at an altitude of about twenty thousand kilometers from the surface of the Earth. This is a total of 24 satellites in space, which are in a group of six orbits. There are four GPS satellites in one orbit.

2. Control Segment – ​​The main idea of ​​control segment is to monitor and track satellites. The control section is made up of the following units: a Master Control Station (MCS),

an optional master control station,

four dedicated ground antennas, and

Six dedicated monitor stations.

3. User Segment – ​​The user segment is responsible for hundreds of thousands of U.S. secure GPS accurate positioning services. and allied military users and the standard positioning service's millions of civilian, commercial and scientific users. In a nutshell, the user segment is a worldwide available GPS receiver. advanatges if GPS

What are the uses of GPS?

So friends, now that we all know about GPS in detail, let us see what are the top 5 uses of GPS technology in our life:

Navigation – Moving from one place to another.

Tracking – Monitoring object or personal movement.

Location – Determination of position.

Mapping – Making maps of the world.

Timing – making it possible to take accurate time measurements.

What is GPS Module?

Friends, let us tell you that GPS module is a complete package to receive GPS signal and it is also called GPS receiver. All of us have probably used or benefited from a GPS receiver or GPS module. They are found in most smartphones, many new automobiles, and are used to track commerce all over the world. These tiny tools can give your exact position and time instantly, almost anywhere on the planet, for free!

At any given time, there are at least 24 active satellites orbiting 12,000 miles above Earth. The satellites are positioned in such a way that there will always be a maximum of 12 satellites in the sky above your location. The primary purpose of the 12 visible satellites is to transmit information at radio frequencies (from 1.1 to 1.5 GHz) back to Earth. With this information and some math, a ground-based GPS receiver or GPS module can calculate its position and time.

And friends, do not think that these GPS modules are very expensive. These are very cheap and small in size and available on all major ecommerce platforms. For example you can click on the button below to check one such GPS module at Amazon.

FAQ

How accurate is GPS

GPS has an accuracy of about five meters (16 feet). GPS receivers that use the L5 band can achieve very high accuracy to within 30 centimeters (11.8 in), while high-end users (typically engineering and land surveying applications) are able to achieve accuracy on multiple bandwidth signals. There are. Centimeter, and even sub-millimetre accuracy for long-term measurements. Consumer devices, such as smartphones, can be as accurate to within 4.9 meters.

( What is the price of GPS module in India )

The average price of a GPS module in India ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 3000.

( What is the name of the navigation system developed by India )

NavIC - It is a regional navigation system developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

( How to use GPS in mobile )

Go to your phone's settings, open the location option and toggle the button on. Your GPS will be turned on in your mobile.