DARPA develops miniature GPS backup device

[2timer]

http://www.geek.com/science/darpa-makes-gps-like-device-thats-smaller-than-a-penny-1551779/

It has 3 gyrometers and 3 accelerometers, each one 50 micrometers thick. It doesn't actually connect to a satellite, what it does is use the last known satellite coordinates and extrapolates your location based on that, in case the satellite signal fails.

Pretty cool. Now, if only private enterprise had come up with this

 

[Nintendesert]

:whiste:

 

[2timer]

You should keep your political crap to P&N.

Your opinion means literally nothing to me. Lol.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

We might finally be able to buy a pet/kid locator cheaper than taping a cellphone to them.

 

[wirednuts]

im guessing they are planning for a Chinese satellite attack?

 

[roguerower]

That's awesome. So many uses on the civilian side.

 

[gorcorps]

I want to put something like this in footballs so we don't have to have line judges to call first downs and touchdowns.

My dreams are small...

 

[podspi]

I want to put something like this in footballs so we don't have to have line judges to call first downs and touchdowns.

My dreams are small...

That's a really great idea. I don't know if people would go for that though, it is hard to argue with a computer

 

[colonelciller]

It doesn't actually connect to a satellite, what it does is use the last known satellite coordinates and extrapolates your location based on that, in case the satellite signal fails.

All GPS devices are passive... all of them.
This doesn't seem to be common knowledge though. The GPS sateillites are always up there orbiting the planet. They are constantly broadcasting and all true GPS devices receive the satellite broadcasts and do an extremely simple mathematical calculation to determine the exact coordinates of the GPS device & thereby the user.

I have a hard time thinking of what may cause the GPS signal to ever fail barring an asteroid 'storm' simultaneously knocking several of the GPS satellites out of orbit.

There is absolutely no reason that any outgoing communication of any user's actual GPS coordinates ever needs to take place. Once the GPS calculation is completed, it is a simple matter to transmit the few bits of data revealing the user's GPS location... which happens evey 90 seconds on every iPhone & iPad with such capabilities. Not sure what happens on the Android phones, probably something similar... not to mention the 'apps' & other spyware that collect and track user data.

 

[dighn]

GPS signals could be jammed I suppose, but that's more of a military scenario.

 

[wirednuts]

That's a really great idea. I don't know if people would go for that though, it is hard to argue with a computer

they've been looking into that for years. they think a laser tracked ball would be best, but nothing they have come up with is reliable or cheap enough... yet.

but someday, you can bet they will. the nfl would LOVE to have computer refs. its not baseball... they just want accurate calls. too much money riding on games for errors to be made.