How Do Automobile Navigation Systems Work?
Identification jQuery(document).ready(function(){ jQuery(‘#jsArticleStep1 span.image a:first’).attr(‘href’,’http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/5003694/185534_Full.jpg’); }); The automobile navigation system is a fairly new technology that found its beginnings toward the end of the 1990s. Through the use of radio waves, space satellites and GPS receivers, a car is able to receive directions to a destination based on its current location. GPS, or global positioning systems, lie at the heart of this technology. These systems rely on a network of 27 satellites, each weighing 3,000 to 4,000 pounds, that orbit the Earth on a continuous basis. Through the use of radio signals, these satellites communicate directional information through a map interface located inside the car. The first car manufacturer to come out with a navigation system was General Motors. Since then, Ford, BMW and Lexus have also incorporated this technology into their manufacturing process. In addition to purch