Researchers have come up with new and improved technology that could eventually replace GPS. The development, called SuperGPS, has an accuracy of at least 100 millimeters. It also doesn’t rely on satellite navigation systems.
The new approach uses cellular networks, but instead of transmitting data to the phone, the network receives the device’s exact coordinates.
A combination of radio transmitters and optical networks forms the basis of the system, but is also assisted by intelligent algorithms. Furthermore, SuperGPS combines transmitters, receivers, a data center and a synchronized atomic clock.
“We realized that with a few cutting-edge innovations, the telecommunications network could be transformed into a highly accurate, GPS-independent alternative positioning systemsays physicist Jeroen Koelemey of Vrie University in the Netherlands.
“GPS is not reliable in urban environments. This is a problem if we want to use automated vehiclessays electrical engineer Christian Tiberius of Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
SuperGPS is an extremely practical system because current mobile and Wi-Fi antennas can be adapted for it.
The research is published in Nature.
