So, GPS, right? It’s like, your phone or car has this built-in GPS receiver that catches signals from satellites way up in the sky. The thing here is, the satellites are constantly sending out messages with their position and the time. Now, your GPS device uses the time difference between when the signal was sent and when it got to you. It knows how far away the satellite is based on how long it took for the signal to arrive. To figure out exactly where you are, it needs at least four of these signals to make sure it’s accurate, since it’s got to account for time errors in the receiver too. It’s pretty awesome when you think about it, makes you not get lost!

GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, operates by utilizing a network of satellites that orbit the Earth. Each satellite transmits signals that include its location and the precise time the signal was transmitted. These signals are received by a GPS device, such as a smartphone or a dedicated GPS receiver.

The receiver uses the time it received the signal from each satellite to calculate how long it took for the signal to travel from the satellite to the receiver. Since the signals travel at the speed of light, the travel time can be converted directly into distance. A process known as trilateration is then used to calculate an exact location. Trilateration in three-dimensional space requires the distance measurements from at least four satellites to determine the receiver’s position and correct the receiver’s clock.

The accuracy and reliability of GPS technology can be affected by various factors including atmospheric conditions, the satellite positions, and obstacles such as buildings or trees that might block the signal paths. Advanced techniques like Differential GPS (DGPS) and Assisted GPS (AGPS) are used to improve the positional accuracy.