Magellan GPS Devices


 


The Global Positioning System (GPS) was developed by the United States Department of Defense and is officially named NAVSTAR GPS. The constellation of (currently) 31 satellites is managed by the United States Air Force 50th Space Wing at an annual cost of approximately US$750 million. GPS has become a widely used aid to navigation worldwide, and a useful tool for map-making, land surveying, commerce, and scientific uses. GPS also provides a precise time reference used in many applications including scientific study of earthquakes, and synchronization of telecommunications networks. A GPS receiver calculates its position by measuring the distance between itself and three or more GPS satellites. Measuring the time delay between transmission and reception of each GPS microwave signal gives the distance to each satellite, since the signal travels at a known speed. The signals also carry information about the satellites' location. By determining the position of, and distance to, at least three satellites, the receiver can compute its position using trilateration.

 




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