How do accelerometers in modern smartphones allow you to use your GPS apps that precisely for really long distances in airplane mode?
In: Technology
Airplane mode only prevents your phone from sending signals. It doesn’t restrict it from receiving them. The way GPS works is that satellites are constantly transmitting highly accurate time data. By receiving that data from multiple satellites, you can pinpoint your position on the Earth using the delays in transmission. However, you don’t need to send any signals to the satellites themselves.
Accelerometers are devices that measure acceleration/rotation in 3 axes. You can use these devices for positioning information, but they have enormous drift over long distances and you need a known starting position to get an absolute position/orientation.
Latest Answers