Many of us depend on GPS (Global Positioning System) to estimate journey instances, discover our strategy to new locations, keep away from site visitors congestion, hold observe of the children, and usually keep away from getting misplaced.

But it isn’t at all times essentially the most dependable of programs, particularly in built-up areas the place it is tough to get a straight line of sight to and from a satellite tv for pc.

Now researchers have provide you with a brand new and improved know-how that would finally exchange GPS in some situations. Called SuperGPS, it is correct inside 10 centimeters (or 3.9 inches) and does not depend on navigation satellite tv for pc programs.

The new strategy makes use of networks just like cell networks, however as a substitute of streaming information to our telephones the community will get a exact repair on the system.

A mix of radio transmitters and fiber-optic networks type the inspiration of the system, with some good tweaks on prime.

“We realized that with a few cutting-edge innovations, the telecommunication network could be transformed into a very accurate alternative positioning system that is independent of GPS,” says physicist Jeroen Koelemeij from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam within the Netherlands.

“We have succeeded and have successfully developed a system that can provide connectivity just like existing mobile and Wi-Fi networks do, as well as accurate positioning and time distribution like GPS.”

In a take a look at website with six radio transmitters, the researchers had been capable of show their system in motion throughout an space of 660 sq. meters (7,104 sq. ft). The timings of the transmitted radio indicators may be measured and interpreted to gauge distance, which then reveals the place of particular person gadgets.

One of the important thing elements of the brand new community positioing system is a synchronized atomic clock: excellent timing means extra exact positioning. Essentially, the fiber optic cables act as connections that hold all the pieces in sync, and correct to 1 billionth of a second.

The system additionally deploys a radio sign bandwidth that is a lot bigger than regular – though as radio spectrum bandwidth is pricey as a result of its shortage, the staff used a number of small bandwidth radio indicators mixed collectively to type a bigger digital bandwidth for the community communication.

This further bandwidth overcomes one of many greatest issues with normal GPS, which is that radio indicators get mirrored off buildings and may rapidly turn out to be confused.

“This can make GPS unreliable in urban settings, for instance, which is a problem if we ever want to use automated vehicles,” says electrical engineer Christiaan Tiberius, from the Delft University of Technology within the Netherlands.

As effectively as automated automobiles, the brand new system might be helpful in planning quantum communication networks and next-generation networks for cell gadgets, in response to the researchers who developed it.

While Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) together with GPS actually have their makes use of and can proceed to take action for a very long time to return, consultants are frequently in search of ways to improve and refine it.

More testing goes to be required to ascertain this as a real different to GPS. The proposed network-based system would additionally take time to arrange, regardless of the actual fact its transmission protocols and {hardware} are already in use. Current cell and Wi-Fi masts might be tailored for the job not less than, in response to the researchers.

“This work provides a glimpse of a future in which telecommunication networks provide not only connectivity but also GNSS-independent timing and positioning services with unprecedented accuracy and reliability,” the researchers state of their published paper.

The analysis has been printed in Nature.