Like hands free car kits have set a trend so sat nav systems are set to do the same. Previously drivers had to carry around a multitude of maps with them and stop to check where they are.

With the invention of satellite navigation systems all of that has now gone. Not only will a sat nav keep on course to your given direction it will also plot your entire route.

Obviously one main advantage is that you don’t actually need to know the route or even the area you will be travelling to. This most affects deliver drivers who often make use of vans. Because delivery companies constantly travel to different locations all around the country it is never possible to be completely familiar with all of the routes available. This is where a sat nav system becomes invaluable because it is able to significantly reduce delivery time. The reason is because now the driver doesn’t have to plan the best route to their destination they simply enter the points into the device.

At this moment in time all satellite navigation systems use the American Global Positioning System (GPS). There will be competition from Europe in 2012 with the launch of the Galileo system. The Russians (GLONASS) and Chinese (COMPASS) also have their own positioning systems under development. Although there will be no affect to current systems which will all be compatible with the new positioning systems.

Using a network of satellites equipped with atomic clocks the system is able to locate the position of a device in relation to the globe. To locate the position of the device a signal is sent containing the orbital position, time and health of the satellite. To interpret the message there needs to be a satellite navigation receiver in your device which can then display the position to the end user.