How GPS Trackers Are Transforming Military-Grade Tech for Civilian Use

The need to determine the position of a person, thing, or area has been around for thousands of years but it’s only been in the last few decades that it’s been met in a way that is so accurate, it’s unimaginable to the ancients. Yes, compasses, celestial navigation, and wave navigation came first and they were all preceded by star and moon navigation (which dates back hundreds if not thousands of years), but satellite-based navigation is “brand new”.

It is a form of two-way navigation, unlike the previous types of navigation. Two-way navigation involves two-way communication in that the navigator can transmit information about his or her position (accurately) to another person. A GPS tracking system is a GPS-based tracking system and today almost no business depends on it. Its two-way communication capability is instantaneous, in other words as soon as the navigator’s position is shared, at that very moment the other person to whom the information is sent can receive and “read” the information.

Originally, GPS systems were used by the military, and with this navigation system, knowing the position of wounded comrades and even enemies could be done very quickly. The tracking capabilities of GPS seemed to surpass all traditional navigation systems, making them completely irrelevant. Today GPS tracking systems have evolved further, not just sharing information about a position in real time. They go beyond that. Take PAJ USA‘s GPS tracking devices for example.

Beginning on the battlefield

The earliest GPS systems were based on the so-called LORAN and Decca Navigation Systems used by Allied forces about 80 years ago in World War II. The system was used by them to navigate allied ships and warplanes over long distances and it greatly helped their effectiveness against Hitler’s NAZI forces.

More than 30 years passed and in February 1978, NAVSTAR was launched by the US Air Force Space Division. It was a satellite-based navigation system that was far more advanced than the first one (used during World War II). With it, new standards of navigation and location accuracy were set.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan made the historic decision to allow civilians access to some of the GPS system data. It was the first milestone in the transition of the use of GPS navigation systems from a fully military to a combination of military and civilian. Since Reagan’s decision, airlines, shipping services, and land transportation modes started using GPS navigation systems and it is evident that their decision significantly improved the quality of service. Initially, GPS navigation systems for the military were much more accurate than those used by civilian transportation but since 2000 or 24 years ago, the accuracy of GPS and civilian navigation systems is almost indistinguishable.

Today there are 24 satellites providing GPS navigation throughout the earth, for everything from airplane navigation to pet navigation. Accurate three-dimensional location is made possible by signals from four satellites and there are a total of 6 orbital paths, each with four satellites.

The GPS navigation system has completely changed the way people track the position of objects, provide information about their position, and monitor various objects in real-time.