Multiple GPS system applications

Although the GPS ("Global Positioning System") was essentially designed to determine a wearer's position, the characteristics of the system and the quality of the measurements mean that a number of applications have been developed that go beyond the strict domain of positioning.

While it would be illusory to attempt to draw up an exhaustive list of user categories, it must be emphasized that the needs expressed have sharpened the imagination of hardware manufacturers or system builders, sub-assembly assemblers and specific software developers.

This article will attempt to classify the main areas of application, and will focus on a few specific aspects that open up major market opportunities.

This article follows on from [TE 6 715], which describes the GPS system, gives an expression of its measurements, studies the errors that can affect these measurements and the differential techniques capable of reducing them, and finally outlines future developments and concepts.