Many of us rely on the gps system to estimate travel times, find our way to new places, avoid traffic congestion, and keep track of the kids.
It's difficult to get a straight line of sight to and from a satellite in built up areas.
Researchers have come up with a new and improved technology that could one day replace the gps device. It's accurate within 10 centimeters and doesn't rely on navigation satellites.
The new approach makes use of networks similar to cell networks but instead of streaming data to our phones the network gets a precise fix
The foundation of the system is comprised of radio transmitters and fiber-optic networks.
"We realized that with a few cutting-edge innovations, the telecommunication network could be transformed into a very accurate alternative positioning system that is independent ofGPS," said physicist Jeroen Koelemeij from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
We have succeeded in developing a system that can provide the same level of service as existing networks, as well as accurate positioning and time distribution.
In a test site with six radio transmitters, the researchers were able to show their system in action. The position of individual devices can be deduced from the timing of the radio signals.
A synchronized atomic clock is one of the main components of the network positioing system. The fiber optical cables act as connections that keep everything in sync and accurate.
The team used several small bandwidth radio signals together to form a larger virtual bandwidth for the network communication.
One of the biggest problems with standardGPS is that radio signals can get reflected off buildings and cause confusion.
Christiaan Tiberius is an electrical engineer from the University of Technology in the Netherlands.
According to the researchers who developed the system, it could be useful in planning quantum communication networks and next- generation networks for mobile devices.
Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) including gps have their uses and will continue to do so for a long time to come, but experts are continually looking for ways to improve and refine it.
It's going to take more testing to establish this as a genuine alternative to gps. It would take time to set up the network-based system even though its transmission protocols and hardware are already in use. The current masts could be adapted for the job.
The researchers state in their paper that the work provides a glimpse of a future in which telecommunication networks provide not only connections but also timing and positioning services with unprecedented accuracy and reliability.
The research was published in a journal.
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