Everyone trying to find their way among tall buildings in major cities faces a frustrating situation: their GPS signal suddenly giving an inaccurate location. Scientists have developed a technology that addresses this common problem of inaccurate GPS signals. It also offers an innovative technology that significantly improves location accuracy.
Technology that addresses the problem of inaccurate GPS: FPS
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have developed a system called the “Fused Positioning System,” or FPS for short. This system doesn’t rely solely on signals from GPS satellites. Instead, it works by intelligently combining data from multiple sources. Most importantly, this allows it to pinpoint your location with much greater precision.
Tall buildings in city centers cause GPS signals to weaken or reflect off buildings, causing them to reach your device with a delay. This effect, known as “urban canyoning,” causes navigation apps to miscalculate your location. This can lead to you suddenly finding yourself on a parallel street or inside a building.
FPS technology takes a multi-layered approach to address this problem. In addition to standard GPS data, the system also uses information from inertial sensors found in smartphones, such as the accelerometer and gyroscope. It also verifies location by recognizing buildings and environmental features using images from the device’s camera. This combination of data ensures a seamless and accurate navigation experience, even when signal strength is weak.
So, do you frequently experience GPS issues while navigating in the city? Share your thoughts on this new technology with us in the comments!
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