Today, technology has made immense progress. There are many inventions that have helped humans in many fields. Technology is used in almost all fields today for various purposes. Various systems have been introduced to track down something. For instance, the global positioning system is introduced to understand and acquire geolocation and gather information about time. However, there are two types of systems, namely 1. GPS or the global positioning system, and 2. AGPS or the assisted global positioning system.
Key Takeaways
- GPS relies on satellite signals for location data, while AGPS uses satellite signals and cellular network data.
- AGPS provides faster location fixes due to assistance from cellular networks.
- GPS consumes more battery power than AGPS because it relies on satellite signals alone.
GPS vs AGPS
GPS (Global Positioning System) is a network of satellites orbiting the Earth that provides location and time information to GPS-enabled devices. AGPS (Assisted Global Positioning System) is a technology that enhances the accuracy and speed of GPS by using additional data from cellular networks.
The GPS is the Global Positioning System that is used to navigate to obtain geolocation and information about the time. It is owned by the government of the United States of America and the space force of the United States. Sometimes due to mountains and tall buildings, the signals can be blocked.
The AGPS is the Assisted Global Positioning System which uses assistance from sources like mobile towers. It is used to obtain the location of the places where the global positioning system can not work. It works in a manner where it allows various network sources to provide information to receivers of the global positioning system that further provides assistance in satellite locations.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | GPS | AGPS |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | Global Positioning System | Assisted Global Positioning System |
| Speed | It is comparatively slower. | It is comparatively faster. |
| Accuracy | Less | More |
| Cost | Less | More |
| Applications | It is used in mobile phones | It is used in various types of cars, ships and aircraft. |
What is GPS?
GPS is the global positioning system that is owned by the government and space forces of the United States of America. In the United States, the project was started in the year 1973. Due to several technological advances and newer demands, several changes have been made to the original GPS model after that.
The global positioning system has its method of calculation. It calculates the time and its entire position on the basis of the data that is obtained from various global positioning system satellites. Every satellite present has its independent data entries of the time and positions, and that data is transferred to the GPS via receivers.
The three fundamental aspects of the global positioning system are space and satellites, ground control and the user’s equipment. The satellites present in space transfer the necessary data to the GPS. There are various control activities that need to be carried out. It includes tracking satellites, transmission monitoring etc.
There are several advantages of using the global positioning system. The global positioning system is easy to use, and it guides a person with directions easily, it also guides a person regarding the weather and climate in a particular location, it is affordable, and one can also gather information about restaurants and gas stations in the vicinity.
What is AGPS?
The AGPS is the assisted global positioning system. Initially, the global positioning system was used for military purposes and later on, the applications of the GPS grew more, and it widened the need for upgrades and modifications. It also required assistance as it was also required for various commercial purposes.
As the applications widened, the need to increase the features and the need to provide assistance to the global positioning system grew more, and that is why assisted global positioning system was introduced. The time that is necessary to establish a stable connection between satellites and receivers of the GPS is known as start-up time, which is thus improved with the help of assisted global positioning system.
The assisted global positioning system also provides a better coverage system and thus helps get the accurate location. A combination of the assisted global positioning system and the wifi positioning system in cell phones also provide better coverage.
There are several advantages of an assisted global positioning system. The location is acquired quickly with the help of the assisted global positioning system, and it uses less power, it also saves battery, the indoor locations are also acquired with its help etc. It uses mobile data to establish a connection that is stable and reliable.
Main Differences Between GPS and AGPS
- GPS stands for global positioning system, on the other hand, AGPS stands for the assisted global positioning system.
- The location acquired with the help of a global positioning system is more accurate than the location acquired with the help of assisted global positioning system.
- The location is acquired at a faster speed with the help of assisted global positioning system, on the other hand, the location is acquired at a slower speed with the hell of the global positioning system.
- The global positioning system is less costly, on the other hand, the assisted global positioning system is more costly.
- The source of triangulation is different in both systems. The source of triangulation in the global positioning system is the radio signals that are established from the global positioning system satellites, on the other hand, the source of triangulation for the assisted global positioning system is the various assistance servers like network cell sites of mobile phones and radio signals that are established by various satellites.
- An additional carrier involvement is not needed in the global positioning system, on the other hand, an additional carrier involvement is needed in the assisted global positioning system.
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=y4Q0DwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=gps&ots=CiwqHi-0Po&sig=-43fBQgueQuPiNmmNjlf4To–a0
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/901174/
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
Both GPS and AGPS have their advantages and are crucial for different technological applications. It’s important to understand the differences and how they work.
The comparison between GPS and AGPS is well-detailed and provides a clear understanding of their differences and applications.
Indeed, the comparison table provides a concise overview of the key distinctions between the two systems.
The insights into the technical aspects of GPS and AGPS are invaluable for understanding the advancements in location tracking technology.
The advantages of using GPS are well-stated, showcasing its versatility and practicality in everyday use, beyond just navigation.
Absolutely, GPS has become an indispensable tool for various location-based services and information gathering.
The detailed explanation of the fundamental aspects of the global positioning system is enlightening and highlights the complexity of its operations.
Agreed, understanding the underlying principles of GPS is essential to appreciate its significance in modern technology.
The development of AGPS has greatly improved the accuracy and speed of location acquisition. It’s fascinating to see how technology has evolved over the years in this field.
Absolutely, the combination of network assistance and satellite data is a significant advancement in GPS technology.
I agree, the integration of mobile data has greatly enhanced the capabilities of AGPS, making it an essential tool in many mobile devices.
The advantages of AGPS in terms of faster location acquisition and power efficiency are compelling reasons for its widespread adoption.
Absolutely, the benefits of AGPS make it a critical component in many modern devices, improving user experience and functionality.
The introduction of AGPS to enhance the capabilities of GPS for commercial and civilian use is a significant milestone in GPS technology.