How It Works
Each satellite sends a signal that includes the time it was sent. Your phone checks how long it took for the signal to arrive, and uses that information to figure out how far away the satellite is. By doing this with several satellites at once, your phone can pinpoint exactly where you are on Earth.
Examples
- Your phone knows you're at the park because it hears from three satellites how far away they are.
- If your GPS says you're near a restaurant, that’s because it figured out where you must be by matching up distances from different satellites.
- Imagine walking through a city and your phone shows you exactly which street you're on, thanks to satellite signals.
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See also
- How Does a Smartphone Recognize Your Face?
- Why Do We Use Passwords for Security?
- Why Do We Use ‘Barcodes’ on Products and How Do They Work?
- How does the latest generation of brain-computer interfaces function?
- How Did the Internet Begin?
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Categories: Technology · GPS,Satellites,Navigation