The Evolution of Global Positioning System (GPS) Technology

Abstract

Early in the race to space in the 1950s, the U.S. Department of Defense found that tracking the position of satellites could be used to track fixed bodies on the surface of the Earth. No one realized that the NAVSTAR GPS satellite constellation program, that began its research and development in 1973 and launching its first four satellites in 1978, would change the very nature of our world in the next two decades. The system later to be known simply as the Global Positioning System (GPS) would not only provide complex navigation and timing capability to the military but, might very well, be the backbone to energize the faltering economy in 2001. A myriad of evolving GPS applications and complementary technologies may spawn new, much needed economic growth. Advances in integrated circuit technology and high-volume applications have helped to bring the price of GPS receivers down to $100–$500. The size of GPS receivers has now been considerably reduced. Prices and device sizes will continue to fall in the next decade while the applications for this technology will continue to blossom. It should be no surprise when this technology affects each of us, and, is used in every home and business in some form during this decade.