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Article: You are here. Here's how to get to there.(navigation systems for automobiles)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- U.S. News & World Report
- Article date:
- November 2, 1998
- Author:
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Copyright informationCOPYRIGHT 1998 All rights reserved. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Navigation systems can help you find your way
Ancient mariners used the stars to navigate. A luxury automobile needs at least three satellites. Today's trendy accessory--showing up in cars, trucks, and even golf carts--is the satellite navigation system, which takes computerized maps and adds precise positioning data, courtesy of the military's orbital Global Positioning System. GPS driving direction systems are accurate, flashy, and, so far, only modestly useful.
GPS is a network of 24 Defense Department tracking and navigation satellites, which use radio waves to emit time signals, calibrated to a millionth of a second. Using satellite signals ...