global positioning system- crowned anarchist（全球定位系统-加冕的无政府主义者）.docVIP

Global Positioning System I INTRODUCTION Global Positioning System?(GPS),?space-based?radio-navigation system (see Navigation), consisting of 24 satellites and ground support. GPS provides users with accurate information about their position and velocity, as well as the time, anywhere in the world and in all weather conditions. II HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT GPS,?formally?known?as the Navstar Global Positioning System, was initiated in 1973 to reduce the proliferation of navigation aids. GPS is operated and maintained by the United States Department of Defense. By creating a system that overcame the limitations of many existing navigation systems, GPS became attractive to a broad spectrum of users. GPS has been successful in classical navigation applications, and because its capabilities are accessible using small, inexpensive equipment, GPS has also been used in many new applications. ? Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Finding Location with GPS Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites orbit high above the surface of Earth at precise locations. They allow a user with a GPS receiver to determine latitude, longitude, and altitude. The receiver measures the time it takes for signals sent from the different satellites (A, B, and C) to reach the receiver. From this data, the receiver triangulates an exact position. At any given time there are multiple satellites within the range of any location on Earth. Three satellites are needed to determine latitude and longitude, while a fourth satellite (D) is necessary to determine altitude. III HOW GPS WORKS GPS?determines?location by computing the difference between the time that a signal is sent and the time it is received. GPS satellites carry atomic clocks that provide extremely accurate time (see Clocks and Watches: Atomic Clocks). The time information is placed in the codes broadcast by the satellite so that a receiver can continuously determine the time the signal was broadcast. The sign