The term "global positioning system," or "GPS," originally referred to a satellite-based radio navigation system used by the U.S. government, but it has since come to refer to any constellation of satellites that broadcasts on the L1, L2, and L5 carrier frequencies and uses trilateration to calculate distances precisely. This article provides examples as it explains the purpose of GPS, its primary types, and its various applications. What Is GPS? In the world of mapping and navigation, GPS is now a generic phrase. When people hear the word GPS, they typically think of the very accurate capacity to track the location of objects or determine a place's direction. The global positioning system, sometimes known as GPS, is a radio-navigation system based on satellite systems that offers users information on positioning, navigation, and timing by transmitting impulses to an earthbound receiver. The United States owns the constellation of satellites known...