FINAL YEAR PROJECT 1 (WEEK 4): Global Positioning System (GPS)

Objectives:

1) To study about Global Positioning System (GPS)

2) To know how GPS works

Methods:

1) By making research in the internet

Results:

How does GPS works

     Global Positioning System is a network of orbiting satellites that send precise details of their position in space back to earth. GPS is well-known for its military uses and was first developed by the US for the war. during early 1980s, the GPS is free to everyone with GPS receiver. Wherever you are on the planet, at least four GPS satellites are 'visible' at any time. Each one transmits information about its position and the current time at regular intervals. The signals is travelling at the speed of light intercepted by your GPS receiver which calculates how far away each satellite is based on how long it took for the messages to arrive. Your GPS receiver can pinpoint your location using a process called trilateration. It happens once it has information on how far away at least three satellites are. Imagine you are standing somewhere on Earth with three satellites in the sky above you. If you know how far away you are from the satellite A, then you will know that you must be located somewhere on the red circle. You can work out your location by seeing where the three circles intersect if you do the same for satellites B and C. Although it uses overlapping spheres rather than circles, it is just what your GPS receiver does. These satellites can be used to calculate a 2-D position which is latitude and longitude besides the track movement. The more satellites there are above the horizon, the more accurately your GPS unit can determine where you are. The receiver can determine the user's 3-D position which is latitude, longitude and altitude with four or more satellites in view. Once the user's position has been determined, the GPS unit can calculate other information such as speed, bearing, track, trip distance, distance to destination, sunrise and sunset time and many more. Nowadays, portable navigation device can give drivers their precise location to within a few meters and it is enough to navigate roadways. The 24 satellites that make up the GPS space segment are orbiting the earth about 12,000 miles above us. GPS is powered by solar energy but they also have backup batteries onboard to keep them running in the event of a solar eclipse when there is no solar power. Small rocket boosters on each satellite keep them flying in the correct path.

Three satellites that can give signals to GPS receiver 

Conclusion:

      This week I am going to tell about the Global Positioning System (GPS) which is one of the part that is very useful for this project as it is can located the place of the accident happens. This will save many lives as the ambulance and the family members who came to rescue the motorcyclist who involved in the accident become more faster compared than before. Before this, when the accident happens, the people who saw the accident will contact the ambulance and family members so that they will come to the accident's place but it is also a late response as they need to search the place of the accident. By using the GPS, the time to rescue people will become much shorter as it can give the accurate information about the accident's place.