Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Where on earth am I? Don’t worry, GPS satellites will guide you

1. Introduction and principle of GPS

  • General Article
  • Published:
Resonance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Since ancient times navigators have been taking the help of celestial objects to find angles between the horizontal and the lines of sight to the celestial objects, in order to determine their position on the earth. Now, they would take the help of couple of manmade objects whizzing around the earth to find their position with very high accuracy, by measuring ranges from these objects. These objects are satellites and this article gives a brief introduction to a satellite based navigation system, called the GPS (Global Positioning System) in two parts. The first part introduces the basic principle of operation of GPS.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Suggested Reading

  1. R J Milliken and C J Zoller. Principle of operation of NAVSTAR and system characteristics.Navigation, Journal of the Institute of Navigation. 25. 2, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  2. B W Parkinson, T Stansell, R Beard and K Gromov. A history of satellite navigation.Navigation, Journal of the Institute of Navigation. 42. 1, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  3. B W Parkinson and J J Spilker (ed.).GlobalPositioning System: Theory and Applications. published by American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Inc. Vol I and II, 1996.

  4. E D Kaplan.Understanding GPS: Principles and Applications. Artech House Publishers, Boston. USA, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  5. J Hoshen. The GPS equations and the problem of Apollonius.IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems. 32. 3. July, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aerospace Systems Private Ltd., Pragathi, 70/1, Miller Road, 560052, Bangalore, India

    Makarand Phatak

Authors
  1. Makarand Phatak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Phatak, M. Where on earth am I? Don’t worry, GPS satellites will guide you. Reson 3, 25–32 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02837343

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02837343

Keywords

Search

Navigation