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I designed an exhibition stall for a customer.He is working for a company which produces navigation technologies. He came our office and demonstrated their technology. He told us how navigation system works with all details. I wrote some information down and decided to write this article into blog.

Firstly, if we want to understand how such a complicated system works, we have to understand basic components of it. So let’s look closer to them.

There are three components of a navigation system.These are GPS receiver, map software and navigation computer.

GPS Receiver
1 - GPS receiver is a passive device just like the radios at home. This means it doesn’t transmit any signal into the air. It just receives position signals from the satellites.GPS receiver needs to contact at least three different satellites because it needs three different signals for working properly.(There is geometrical location finding method called trilateration. Also Global Positioning System uses 3D trilateration method for locating a point.) Usually GPS receivers could contact with three or more satellites. Allright, what is the function of a GPS receiver? I won’t tell detailed informations about GPS receiver. The GPS receiver’s function is to receive the GPS signal from the air and turn these signals into the sensible location information. This information contains north-south and east-west information as degree, minutes and seconds. This location information sends to navigation computer via wireless, bluetooth or cable.

Map Software
2 - The map software is loaded to navigation computer.These navigation computers could be a PDA, laptop, mobile phone or a special navigation device. Map software uses the location information that is sent by GPS receiver and locate the GPS receiver as a point on the map. The maps is drawn by special technics. Map designers also use the GPS receivers for measuring the distances between reference points. Therefore, navigation maps are very sensitive.

Navigation Computer
3 - You have a laptop computer and you would like to use navigation system. You need just a GPS receiver module about 50-60 $. I mean, any computer or device that has a memory and processor could be a navigation computer. You need appropriate maps with your device. Some laptop computers, PDA devices and mobile phones also have internal GPS receiver module. You can load navigation maps to these devices and use them. But some GPS technology companies (like Garmin) produces navigation computers that have all required components. Some automobile manufacturers also manufacturing navigation embedded cars. But this advanced navigation systems seriously increases the car prices . (approximately 1500$ - 3000$). Advanced car navigation systems contain main navigation components, also have some gyroscopes for instantaneous reactions.