Global Positioning System (GPS) is "a space-based navigation system" that "provides geolocation and time information." (Wikipedia). GPS was originally intended for military use but was opened up to the public. GPS is most commonly used to get directions or find a specific location. What is commonly referred to as a GPS is actually a GPS receiver that uses the GPS satellites to determine its location. GPS satellites have atomic clocks that are synchronized to each other as well as to clocks on Earth. These satellites are continuously transmitting the time and their locations. The job of the GPS receiver is to use these satellites to determine its own location.
How this relates to Computer Science
Computer science is extremely important in GPS because it is needed to program the GPS receiver. In order for the GPS receiver to utilize the GPS satellites, an algorithm is needed. The GPS receiver is able to determine its location through the GPS satellites by a process called trilateration/triangulation. In order to find its location, the GPS receiver first finds the locations of at least four GPS satellites. Three of the satellites are used for coordinates while the other is used to check for deviations in the time. The receiver then uses the information from the satellites to run an algorithm that will produce its location.References
1. Brain, Marshall and Tom Harris. "How GPS Receivers Work." HowStuffWorks. N.p., 25 Sept. 2006. Web.
2. "Global Positioning System." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. n.d. Web.
This is really interesting! I had no idea that GPS was originally developed for the military.
ReplyDeleteI have never related GPS to algorithm. When I am using Goggle map, an algorithm is running with the help of at least four satellites. This is amazing. Things like satellites located at somewhere so far away--in the space, can be manipulated through algorithms on computers.
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