People Who Changed the World: GPS Invented
Today, geolocation is more than just a convenient feature on our phone. It is an indispensable tool for travel, logistics, cartography, and even gaming!
Today, geolocation is more than just a convenient feature on our phone. It is an indispensable tool for travel, logistics, cartography, and even gaming!
But who created GPS and when was GPS invented, the technology that changed the world?
The history of GPS does not begin with convenient apps and maps in your phone, but with secret military developments from the Cold War.
Let's find out who invented the GPS and how it turned from a military secret into an integral part of our daily lives. And you can directly track the location of your loved ones in the Number Tracker app.
A Piece of History
The history of GPS is a large-scale project of the US Department of Defense, born out of necessity and listed as top secret. So, what year was GPS invented? Or who invented GPS for cars? Now you will know.
The Origin of the Idea
(Early 1960s - 1973)
Military Necessity | Predecessors | Key Decision |
The Cold War required new ways to accurately navigate and aim weapons, regardless of the weather and time of day. Existing navigation systems had limitations, especially on a global scale. | Systems such as Transit (for submarine navigation) and Timation (for time synchronization using satellites) already existed. These projects showed the potential of satellite navigation, but it was necessary to create a more accurate and versatile system. | 1973 It was in this year that the US Department of Defense combined various developments and officially launched the NAVSTAR GPS program. This became the starting point for the creation of modern GPS. |
The Era of Satellite Development and Launch
(1970s- 1990s)
The first Satellites | Satellite structure | Focus on Military Needs |
Starting in 1978, the first NAVSTAR satellites were launched into space. This process was long and expensive. | The deployment of the full constellation of satellites (24 satellites providing global coverage) took more than two decades. | Throughout this period, GPS was used exclusively for military purposes. Civilian access was restricted and intentionally degraded. |
Transition to the Civilian Sphere
(1990s-present)
The KAL 007 tragedy (1983) | Abolish Selective Availability | The boom of GPS technology | Modernity |
The Korean Boeing 747 shot down by Soviet fighters, which went off course, showed the need for more accurate navigation for civilian aircraft. | US President Bill Clinton has decided to abolish Selective Availability, which has significantly improved GPS accuracy for civilian users. This was a turning point that opened the door for mass use of GPS. | With the abolition of Selective Availability, the rapid growth of GPS technology began. GPS has been introduced into cars, smartphones, camping equipment, and many other devices. You can read about GPS on your phone here. | Now GPS is not only an American system. There are other global navigation satellite systems (GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou). In addition, GPS continues to be upgraded and improved, and the accuracy, reliability, and availability of the system are improving. |
The history of GPS is an example of how a military development created to protect a country turned into a technology that changed the world for the better, making navigation accessible to everyone.
The Main Characters of This Story
Before we talk about the main creators, it is important to emphasize that there is no clear answer to the question "who invented GPS?".
Ivan Getting
(1912-2003)
Ivan Getting may not be the most famous name in the history of GPS, but his role was key.
Getting, a scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, made a huge contribution to the development of mathematical algorithms and principles of operation of navigation systems, which formed the basis of GPS.
His work on missile guidance systems and radio navigation systems was a breakthrough and paved the way for future developments in the field of satellite navigation.
Roger Easton
(1921 - 2014)
Roger Easton is often referred to as one of the "fathers" of GPS.
He developed the Timation system, which used atomic clocks on satellites to accurately determine time. This system has formed the basis of many key concepts.
Easton saw the potential of satellite navigation much earlier than many.
Gladys West
(1930 - present)
The history of GPS, unfortunately, often ignores the contributions of many scientists, and especially women. Now you will know who invented the GPS black woman.
Gladys West, a black mathematician whose story has become known relatively recently, has made a huge contribution to the development of algorithms and models for GPS.
After completing her degree in mathematics, she worked at the Naval Base in Dahlgren, Virginia, where she worked on the complex calculations necessary to create an accurate geodetic model of the Earth. This model, known as a geoid, is used to adjust GPS data and improve location accuracy.
Gladys West's research and her work on the geoid were crucial for GPS. She is, without exaggeration, one of those whose efforts have made it possible to accurately determine the location that we take for granted today.
The stories of women like Gladys West remind us of the importance of recognizing the contributions of all scientists, regardless of their race or gender. Her work helps answer the question: "Why was GPS invented?" - to improve navigation accuracy and solve complex tasks that require accurate location data.
Where was GPS invented?
At the Dahlgren Naval Base and other secret laboratories across the country.
A Couple of Important Words
Although it is impossible to answer the questions of who invented the GPS technology, who was GPS invented for cars or finally when was GPS invented for phones by one name, it is important to remember the people whose efforts made this a reality.
Their work, from mathematical algorithms to geodetic models, is at the heart of this irreplaceable technology. It is thanks to them that today we can easily find our way in an unfamiliar city or track our sports achievements using a GPS tracker.
Modern GPS
Today it is difficult to imagine a world without GPS. This technology, created for military needs, has become firmly embedded in our daily lives and has changed many areas of activity.
Geolocation Is Everywhere
Navigation | The most obvious application is, of course, navigation. From car navigators to mobile apps, technology allows us to navigate anywhere in the world, build routes and avoid traffic jams. Or it allows anxious parents to take care of their children's safety. |
Transportation and Logistics | Cargo delivery companies use geolocation to track the location of transport, optimize routes, and improve logistics efficiency. |
Agriculture | Farmers use GPS for precision farming, determining the optimal zones for sowing and fertilizing. This allows you to increase yields and reduce costs. |
Construction and Geodesy | Geolocation is used to accurately determine coordinates and heights, which is necessary for the construction of buildings, roads and other infrastructure facilities. |
Mobile Applications | Many mobile applications use GPS to determine the user's location, for example, to search for nearby restaurants, shops or attractions. Such as The Number Tracker App. |
Rescue Operations | Geolocation plays a vital role in rescue operations, helping search teams find people in trouble in hard-to-reach places. |
Impact on Technology and Scientific Research
Mobile Technology Development: GPS has become one of the key technologies that have shaped the development of mobile devices.
Improved Data Accuracy: Technology is constantly being improved to provide more accurate location data. This opens up new opportunities for scientific research in the fields of geology, cartography, ecology and other sciences.
Time Synchronization: Geolocation is used to synchronize time in various systems, from banking transactions to telecommunication networks.
Sources:
Real-time GPS tracker