Satellite Navigation

The most abundant metal known to man is iron. It's everywhere. Not just on Earth, but in space as well. Astro engineers have just figured out how to use iron – or nearly any metal for that matter – as plasma rocket fuel.

In 2018, Garmin launched the ultralight inReach Mini two-way emergency communicator. Now it updates the tiny, satellite-based survival tool into the all-new Mini 2, a palm-sized device with more power for saving your bacon in the backcountry.

China has reached an enormous milestone with the successful testing and commissioning of the 55th and final satellite in its BeiDou-3 global positioning system, a competitor to the American GPS system with the capability to send short messages.

The Global Position System (GPS) has turned 25 years old. Operated by the US Space Force, the constellation of navigational satellites went fully operational on April 27, 1995, though US Space Command made the formal announcement in July of that year.

In-car satnav systems and mobile mapping apps have made it much easier to travel from one place to another without getting lost, but a new innovation promises to help fix a remaining pain point – getting in the right lane at intersections.

Talking to a Garmin navigator has already been possible for a few years now, but the company's latest device will allow drivers to ask Amazon's Alexa to stream audiobooks, podcasts and music through the vehicle's sound system, as well as get the navigation system to serve up turn-by-turn directions.

The TomTom VIO is designed to help give scooter owners the type of satellite navigation capability that previously was only available to car, truck and motorcycle owners with what is claimed to be the world’s first smartphone-connected device.​​

Johan Löfgren and Rüdiger Haas of Chalmers University in Sweden have developed a new way of measuring sea level that uses satnav signals for constant, real-time monitoring that promises new insights into many fields, including climate change.

Designed to end any dependence on the US-maintained Global Positioning System (GPS), the second generation of China's independent Beidou satellite navigation system has begun operations.

Making Visual Solid wins the Galileo Master 2011 grand prize at this year's European Satellite Navigation Competition for their True3D 3D head up display for motor cars.

The UK's Network Rail and Garmin have developed a special sat nav app that causes the device to sound a train-like whistle when the driver approaches a level crossing.

The Cobra 7750 Platinum navigator has a 7" screen and 33,000 points of interest for truckers