navigation – Impact Lab

Military, Science & Technology News, Space, Transportation

GPS 3 is the future of navigation, and it’s set to roll out in 2023

September 20, 2019

Lockheed Martin GPS III

Since 1993, the US Air Force has made its Global Positioning System (GPS) available to the world, and ever since then that technology has found its way into many facets of our everyday lives. It’s in our cars, in our phones, and even in our watches. It’s not surprising then that the United States continues to invest in the development of the technology for both civilian and military use — and that investment is beginning to pay off.

With two satellites in orbit and eight more in various stages of development, the latest iteration, GPS III, already is in the process of being deployed. Here’s what you can expect when the next generation of GPS goes fully operational in 2023.

Continue reading… “GPS 3 is the future of navigation, and it’s set to roll out in 2023”

Apple, Augmented Reality, Automobiles, Science & Technology News

Apple wants to put AR navigation in your car

August 9, 2019

Apple Maps could make driving easier with augmented reality navigation tips.

Apple is exploring ways to build augmented reality into Apple Maps. Rather than top-down views of roads and intersections, the company is considering overlaying route information onto live views of the road ahead of the car.

Apple Maps has always lagged behind Google Maps. Building in AR could help it jump ahead.

Continue reading… “Apple wants to put AR navigation in your car”

Environment, Latest News, Report, Science & Technology News

Earth’s magnetic north pole has officially moved

March 28, 2019

This map shows the new location of the magnetic North Pole (the white star). NOAA NCEI/CIRES

Earth’s magnetic North Pole has drifted so fast that authorities have had to officially redefine the location of the magnetic North Pole. The extreme wandering of the North Pole caused increasing concerns over navigation, especially in high latitudes.

Earth’s magnetic field is known to have wandered and flipped in the geologic past. Earth’s magnetic field is a result of spinning molten iron and nickel 1,800 miles below the surface. As the constant flow of molten metals in the outer core changes over time, it alters the external magnetic field.

What we’ve seen in the past hundred years is that the location of the magnetic North Pole has moved northward. That migration of the magnetic North Pole was switched into overdrive in the past few years, causing the pole to rapidly move. The increased speed with which the magnetic North Pole has moved prompted authorities to officially update its location. The official location of the magnetic poles is specified by the World Magnetic Model, which acts as the basis for navigation, communication, GPS, etc. around the globe.

Continue reading… “Earth’s magnetic north pole has officially moved”

App, Google, Internet

Google Earth’s New Feature Brings the Entire Planet to Life

November 27, 2018

The new feature allows users to take virtual, interactive tours of the world.

Via Futurism

Engineering, Inventions, New Inventions, new technology

Quantum ‘compass’ promises navigation without using GPS

November 20, 2018

It could keep society humming when satellites fail.

GPS is vital to modern navigation, but it’s extremely fragile. Never mind coverage — if a satellite fails or there’s a jamming attack, it quickly becomes useless. Scientists may have a much more robust answer, though. Scientists have demonstrated a “commercially viable” quantum accelerometer that could provide navigation without GPS or other satellite technology. The device uses lasers to cool atoms to extremely low temperatures, and then measures the quantum wave properties of those atoms as they respond to acceleration.

Continue reading… “Quantum ‘compass’ promises navigation without using GPS”

Entertainment, Latest Trend, Travel

How technology has revolutionized the cruise industry

August 24, 2018

The cruise industry is one which has undergone enormous change in recent times. A huge amount of money has been spent on revamping the cruise ships with new facilities and new technology to define new levels of luxury and comfort. This, and making cruises more affordable through places like Bolsover Cruise Club, has made cruise vacations much more appealing to a younger audience and transformed the industry.

Continue reading… “How technology has revolutionized the cruise industry”

Alternative Transportation, Automobiles, Future, new technology, Science & Technology News, Transportation

Toyota’s driverless cars will be able to talk to each other in the future

November 4, 2015

Cars will be able to talk to each other to avoid accidents, merge onto highways and drive us to a destination we set on the GPS sometime in the near future. This type of technology is actually already on the roads across the world and will be rolling out in Australia over the next few years.

Continue reading… “Toyota’s driverless cars will be able to talk to each other in the future”

Great New Product, Science & Technology News

Pioneer unveils NavGate augmented reality sat nav

September 4, 2013

Pioneer NavGate

Pioneer has launched an augmented reality-equipped satellite navigation unit as part of its NavGate range that uses a head-up display (HUD) to display directions directly in the driver’s line of sight.

Continue reading… “Pioneer unveils NavGate augmented reality sat nav”

Business, Great New Product, Science & Technology News

Here Auto: Nokia’s connected car platform

September 3, 2013

Here Auto

Nokia announced last week its intention to become a much bigger technological force in the vehicle after years of being the auto industry’s mapmaker. Nokia took the wraps off of Here Auto, an embedded infotainment and connected car system, which it hopes to sell to the world’s car manufacturers.

Continue reading… “Here Auto: Nokia’s connected car platform”

Science & Technology News

Mercedes-Benz is integrating Google Glass into its cars

August 20, 2013

Mercedes is testing Google Glass-based navigation systems.

Mercedes-Benz just went public with its initial plans for Google Glass integration, and the results are fascinating. Using Glass’s built-in GPS capabilities, Mercedes is testing a functional door-to-door direction system that guides users to their destinations even after they park the car.

Continue reading… “Mercedes-Benz is integrating Google Glass into its cars”

Analysis, Latest Trend, Science & Technology News

Drivers prefer their smartphones to the mediocre built-in car navigation systems

January 28, 2013

Smartphone apps are more advanced than what automakers are offering, so they are preferable.

Increasingly, drivers prefer using applications on their smartphones to the navigation systems that come installed in their cars.

Continue reading… “Drivers prefer their smartphones to the mediocre built-in car navigation systems”

Analysis, Business, Science & Technology News

Wearable computing devices are next big thing

April 18, 2012

Wearable computers

A report released by Forrester Research says that the wearable computing wars are about to begin. They predict that consumers will begin experimenting more with wearable computers over the coming year, specifically around health and fitness, navigation, social networking and gaming. This new theme among consumers will hasten big tech companies to begin creating wearable computing products.

Continue reading… “Wearable computing devices are next big thing”