What’s New in the World of GPS Navigation?
This is an exciting time in history for Global Navigation Satellite Systems, because the market is just developing and, together with the increased sophistication of Internet and computing services, is giving birth to a whole new array of applications and gadgets utilizing satellite navigation technology. Here's just some of the new developments that have popped up in this field in recent years.
Wave-Bubble - a portable RF jammer
Just in case you thought that the GPS era would be an unlimited utopia of perfect global information, some spoil-sport comes along. The Wave-Bubble is a gadget the size of a pack of cigarettes which is a self-tuning radio frequency jammer. Yes, it is illegal as anything almost everywhere where it would matter. It's just notable for being a publicly-available design, so just remember that there is now an arms race where GPS systems have to account for any local joker who would try jamming frequencies. The other reason why it is notable is because the design was created in partnership with the "Cult of the Dead Cow" international hacking group - yes, the ones who were in business pirating 'warez' software before there was even a World Wide Web! Crippling GPS navigation isn't even anything new; the original GPS system was designed so that it could be turned off by the military for tactical advantages.
Peer to Peer Positioning
So, let's say you're without a GPS receiver, but you have some other device like a cell phone or laptop computer. Well, once somebody else who has GPS is locked in, they know their exact location. They can then upload this data to a network which can then target your location relative to other known locations, such as mobile phone towers. This service is already provided on devices such as iPhones. It is certainly not as good as a GPS device, and isn't even accurate to 100 feet, but is still good for a pseudo-backup system.
Crime-busting tracers
In an innovation straight out of Batman, police departments in Los Angeles, United States, are using a device which propels a dart-like device with an embedded GPS locator onto a fleeing car. You can easily guess why! With a tracking device on a vehicle, the police can back off on dangerous high-speed chases and rely on multiple units instead to continuously track the location of the suspect's vehicle.
GPS-equipped battle bots
Oh, it gets scarier and scarier! The United States Army is currently testing a robotic mobile armed vehicle which comes equipped with a GPS receiver to assist in navigation. These units, called "Multifunctional Utility-Logistics Equipment" units (MULE) are about the size of a Humvee and come equipped with laser and heat-recognizing target-acquisition systems as well as missiles and machine-guns. Lockheed Martin is supposed to start shipping these things by 2014. Meanwhile, an Australian company by the name of Metal Storm has adopted a person-sized unit, called a "Packbot", with similar aims and purposes. Let's hope they don't get taken over by a hacker!
Gadget integration
The idea of a separate GPS receiver might soon become a thing of the past, as more and more devices are starting to incorporate GPS navigation receivers. Amongst the many technologies making a launch into GPS functionality are Sony Play-Station Portables, Blackberrys, and Bluetooth. Even wristwatches are getting into the act with Casio, Globalsat, and Garmin already offering watches with built-in GPS locators.
Filed Under: Mobile Computing
