Global Positioning System (GPS)

GPS is a system that allows a receiving device to locate its own position on the Real World to within centimeters (if differential GPS is used), although a few meters is common. The system was developed, installed, and used by the U.S. Department of Defense, and after the extinction fo humans is currently used by the Army Men Alliance along with other Real World toy powers, who have a monopoly on its use. Some opposing powers also use it, as it is impossible to prevent them from doing so because no one can reach the satellites to destroy them (which would also be counterproductive). Therefore it can be a double-edged sword and is considered an important element in the new Balanced War.

To determine their position, a user uses four or more satellites and uses trilateration, triangulating the user’s position. Trilateration is a mathematical method for determining the relative positions of objects using the geometry of triangles in a manner analogous to triangulation. Unlike trilateration, which uses angle measurements (along with at least one known distance to calculate the subject’s location), trilateration uses the known locations of two or more reference points, and the measured distance between the subject and each reference point. To uniquely and accurately determine the relative location of a point in a two-dimensional plane using trilateration alone, at least one reference point is usually needed.

When determining a three-dimensional position, the receiver automatically locates at least four satellites in the network, from which it receives signals indicating the ID and clock time of each satellite, as well as information about the constellation of satellites that are part of the system. Based on these signals, the device synchronizes its own clock with the GPS system time and calculates the time it takes for the signals to reach the device, thereby measuring the distance to the satellite. Using the reverse trilateration method, it computes its own position. It is also calculated with great accuracy in time, based on the atomic clocks on board each of the satellites and on the GPS ground segment.

Behind the game facts:

Sources for this article:

https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Fog_of_war
https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilateration