Global Positioning System, Volume 1 - Theory and Applications

Of all the military developments fostered by the cold war, the Global Positioning System (GPS) may prove to have the greatest positive impact on everyday life. One can imagine a 21st century world covered by an augmented GPS and laced with mobile digital communications in which aircraft and other vehicles travel through "virtual tunnels," imaginary tracks through space which are continuously optimized for weather, traffic, and other conditions. Robotic vehicles perform all sorts of construction, transportation, mining, and earth moving functions working day and night with no need for rest. Low-cost personal navigators are as commonplace as hand calculators, and every cellular telephone and personnel communicator includes a GPS navigator. These are some of the potential positive impacts of GPS for the future. Our purpose in creating this book is to increase that positive impact. That is, to accelerate the understanding of the GPS system and encourage new and innovative applications. The intended readers and users of the volumes include all those who seek knowledge of GPS techniques, capabilities, and limitations.