+Stuey Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 I was catching up on some Sky+ recordings this morning and watched an episode of "Britain from Above" which mentioned a farmer who has a combine harvester that is 'piloted' by GPS. The farmer just sits in the cab while the thing drives itself. The accuracy is down to 2.5cm which means that the position of the harvester is perfect to not miss any wheat and to not overlap too much. Impressive huh? This £400,000 monster replaced three 'normal' combines. Last year I met a cacher at an event who uses GPS in his work to survey beaches, with similar accuracy no doubt. Anyone got any similar stories? Quote Link to comment
+rutson Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 (edited) I heard there was a bunch of wierdos out there who use their GPS receivers to find tupperware hidden in woods. Who knew??? Edited September 27, 2008 by rutson Quote Link to comment
+The Flying Boots Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 I've just started a new job doing collections for Royal Mail. I took my GPS along with me to learn the route and marked each post box that I have to visit. Quote Link to comment
+Primitive Person Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Many trains use GPS to pinpoint their location for automated PA announcements, and also things like opening the correct doors in platforms at stations. Tunnels present issues, though... Lee Quote Link to comment
+Primitive Person Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 (edited) <double post> Edited September 27, 2008 by Primitive Person Quote Link to comment
+HazelS Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 (edited) I used mine when I broke down a few years ago... I had no REAL idea where I was (nothing new there!) and so gave the AA my coords.... They soon found me! My lodger works for the RSPB, and they use a GPS to mark the locations of birds nests on the Marshes here in the spring so that they can always find them again to go and check on them. Edited September 27, 2008 by HazelS Quote Link to comment
+Graculus Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 When not reviewing I take my astronomical telescope out into the garden. It has a built in GPS so the onboard computer knows where it is and can find objects easily. Has a 'Goto' function just like my Garmin. Bit of a difference though; "Search - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy - distance 2.5million light years - GOTO". Graculus Quote Link to comment
+webscouter. Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 GPS signals are used to calibrate time standards in electronics. A specialized receiver but a GPS none the less Quote Link to comment
+The Jones' Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 I heard there was a bunch of wierdos out there who use their GPS receivers to find tupperware hidden in woods. Who knew??? I heard there was a bunch of wierdos out there who use their GPS receivers to hide tupperware in the woods - WHY???. Quote Link to comment
+The Jones' Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 When not reviewing I take my astronomical telescope out into the garden. It has a built in GPS so the onboard computer knows where it is and can find objects easily. Has a 'Goto' function just like my Garmin. Bit of a difference though; "Search - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy - distance 2.5million light years - GOTO". Graculus GOTO is cheating - you'll never learn your way around the sky.... I used my GPS to get to a star party last night then my manual telescope to look at Jupiter and it's moons (nearly as sad as hiding/finding tupperware in the woods....) Brian. Quote Link to comment
+tteggod trackers Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 The BBC are tracking its own shipping container with one BBc box page BBC box Started off in Portsmouth I believe now on its way to China with whisky! They also use on a series World on the Move to track migrating birds etc. world on the move Quote Link to comment
+Boots... Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Im a 4H leader in NYS and my club just finished a 1-year project where they went out and marked waypoints at every farm in the county that sold goods directly to the public. Once they had that data, they imported thier waypoints into a GIS (Geographic Information System) map. That map will soon be available online at the 4H website so people who want to buy thier foods local will be able to locate farmers markets, roadside stands, u-pick farms, etc... that are closest to them and find out more information about those farms (directions, hours, contact information, and more). Thought that was pretty cool! Quote Link to comment
+Team Sieni Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 For drawing pictures ... http://www.gpsdrawing.com/gallery.htm Quote Link to comment
+kewfriend Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 When not reviewing I take my astronomical telescope out into the garden. It has a built in GPS so the onboard computer knows where it is and can find objects easily. Has a 'Goto' function just like my Garmin. Bit of a difference though; "Search - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy - distance 2.5million light years - GOTO". GraculusWOW - and I thought it was I who had the geek problem! Quote Link to comment
+The Blorenges Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 When not reviewing I take my astronomical telescope out into the garden. It has a built in GPS so the onboard computer knows where it is and can find objects easily. Has a 'Goto' function just like my Garmin. Bit of a difference though; "Search - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy - distance 2.5million light years - GOTO". GraculusWOW - and I thought it was I who had the geek problem! ... and you know, it's a real hassle when he's GONETO Andromeda Galaxy and I have to call him in for dinner. MrsB Quote Link to comment
SlytherinAlex Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 This isn't surprising. Quote Link to comment
+Delta68 Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 (edited) When I told my brother about caching and that the GPS signal gets you to within a few feet of the cache he wasn't overly impressed; he's a surveyor for a company which maintains the railway track and they use GPS for positioning their instruments with mm precision accuracy M Edited September 29, 2008 by Delta68 Quote Link to comment
+Lydford Locators Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 (edited) I used mine when I broke down a few years ago... I had no REAL idea where I was (nothing new there!) and so gave the AA my coords.... They soon found me! Well done the AA, more than we can say for the Surrey Ambulance Service. Last year whilst caching deep in a forest, elderly grandma Locator fell breaking her leg in 6 places. We rang 999 and gave them our co-ords from our GPS thinking it was the answer to our prayers. But they insisted that the only way they could find us was by Mrs Locator leaving Grandma and the two Junior Locators (aged 7 & 8 years at the time) in the forest whilst she ran to the nearest habitation, found an address and waited there to meet the ambulance crew to show them the way to Grandma! We were less than impressed! Edited September 29, 2008 by Lydford Locators Quote Link to comment
+L8HNB Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 My namesake on Time Team has one on a stick for recording the position of old things - perhaps I need one for locating L H Quote Link to comment
+Jacobite Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 I use them to talk to God, and the little people at the bottom of the garden Quote Link to comment
+pklong Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 I used mine to set the time on q clock just now. Quote Link to comment
+dizspell Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 (edited) Working for the local NHS Ambulance Service, I have passed on GPS co-ords via control to the Air Ambulance with no problems. Edited September 30, 2008 by dizspell Quote Link to comment
NickPick Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 I use GPS at work for surveying the location and height of objects to within a few millimetres. Quote Link to comment
+CBT69 Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 I have a tinfoil viking helmet custom made to reflect GPS signals back up and confuse the black helicopters. Quote Link to comment
+dogastus Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 I use my GPS to waymark my car when I've parked at a big event - saves me having to remember where it was! Quote Link to comment
Edgemaster Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 I use GPS at work for surveying the location and height of objects to within a few millimetres. If only I could get a hold of one of those GPSes for OpenStreetMap, pity they're so damned expensive! Quote Link to comment
dragons puke Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 A friend of mine uses one when he is metal detecting for recording finds so that he can find any patterns as to where people lost stuff long ago. Quote Link to comment
+Y2KOTA Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 Railroads are using them for train control. Quote Link to comment
+Norwegian Blue Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 I work on a dive support vessel in the North Sea. We build the infrastructure out here to enable the oil companies to pump oil and gas to shore. I normally park my ship up using DGPS and then we use a computer to control the ships thrusters to keep us in the same position (Dynamic Positioning) to allow us to deploy divers and other equipment onto the sea bed. It's interesting work and pays the mortgage. An accuracy rule of thumb for us is 1 metre but, sometimes it's better than that. (possibly even 20cm) Quote Link to comment
+Y2KOTA Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Theres a whole range of GPSr gear for bicycling also. Quote Link to comment
+kewfriend Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Railroads are using them for train control. It never occurred to me that trains could become lost Quote Link to comment
+Team Sieni Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 It never occurred to me that trains could become lost Obviously not a rail commuter. They lose mine regularly. Quote Link to comment
+Delta68 Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 (edited) The self driving BMW they had on Top Gear last year must have used pretty accurate GPS detection... link to you tube M Edited October 3, 2008 by Delta68 Quote Link to comment
+L8HNB Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 The self driving BMW they had on Top Gear last year must have used pretty accurate GPS detection... link to you tube M Probably a lot better driven than a lot of Beemers Quote Link to comment
+cakemaker Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Severn Trent use them for waypointing water meters etc. Quote Link to comment
+Crid Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 A friend of mine borrowed my spare GPS last week when he went paragliding in southern France. Last night we loaded his tracks into Google Earth so that he could see how he'd done on his various flights. I knew Google Earth could plot GPS tracks onto the ground, but I didn't previously know you could get it to show the altitude. (I knew the GPS tracks contained altitude information though). I suspect my friend will be buying a GPS soon. I've already introduced him to geocaching, and now he has a second reason to buy one. Quote Link to comment
+Delta68 Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 That reminds me... We stopped at the garage in Betws-y-Coed, on the way back from Snowdonia last year and this dude on a motorbike wandered over to me and asked what 'Geocaching' was - he'd spotted the car's window sticker. He said he'd come across an ammo box in the hills somewhere full of tat and had remembered that it said Geocache on it. I explained and he said that he already used a GPSr for paragliding. It would be interesting to know if he ever gave caching a try M Quote Link to comment
+The Blorenges Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 You can use your GPS to take part in a new puzzle that's been created. For full details, read The Treasure Hunt that's high art. MrsB Quote Link to comment
+O2J Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 Live bus tracking systems use GPS to track the buses and update the "Next Bus Due in x minutes" systems. The same location info is used to play "Next Stop...." announcements. It's been extended to allow you to pay for you journeys with a smartcard where you swipe on and off buses and the GPS locations are used to work out billing. Our local bus company uses a system called Startrack. Beam me up! J Quote Link to comment
+Madyokel Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 Last week I was doing a job for the Forestry Commission Nursery at Wykeham Nursery near Scarborough. Chatting to the blokes in the office I sat a Garmin CS on the dest. I mentioned I had a Legend (before we broke it) and they bromptly gave me another differently broken Legend ;*) so I may have a working "Blue Brick" again! Anyway they use it to measure the distance on lines of the baby trees they grow so they can work out how many they are producing for stock. The Wykeham nursery produces 9.000.000 trees each year for the Forestry Commission. Quote Link to comment
+Madyokel Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 Last week I was doing a job for the Forestry Commission Nursery at Wykeham Nursery near Scarborough. Chatting to the blokes in the office I sat a Garmin CS on the dest. I mentioned I had a Legend (before we broke it) and they bromptly gave me another differently broken Legend ;*) so I may have a working "Blue Brick" again! Anyway they use it to measure the distance on lines of the baby trees they grow so they can work out how many they are producing for stock. The Wykeham nursery produces 9.000.000 trees each year for the Forestry Commission. Quote Link to comment
Sagina nivalis Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 A friend of mine borrowed my spare GPS last week when he went paragliding in southern France. Last night we loaded his tracks into Google Earth so that he could see how he'd done on his various flights. I knew Google Earth could plot GPS tracks onto the ground, but I didn't previously know you could get it to show the altitude. (I knew the GPS tracks contained altitude information though). I suspect my friend will be buying a GPS soon. I've already introduced him to geocaching, and now he has a second reason to buy one. Hillwalkers / baggers use the altitude feature quite a bit, either for producing nice graphs of where they've been, or occasionally to measure altitudes - sometimes to sub-metre accuracy with very fancy [borrowed] kit: http://www.nuttalls.com/news/0027.htm Rob Quote Link to comment
+Papakas Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 I regularly use a gps to measure out areas in conjunction with logistical surveys such as that for out of gauge potential load holding points in laybys and motorway service areas. A lot easier and more accurate than having to park up and pace out an area, simply take a mark at one end and drive to the other and note the distance from the mark! Very handy when surveying in busy areas such as container ports or out on the open road! I seem to recall reading somewhere that there's an organisation that uses gps to track targets then to guide a missile half way round the world to destroy. Hope their's is a bit more accurate than my old GPSIII+ "gps indicates we're coming up over the DZ [drop zone], signal the pilot to open the bomb bay doors ready for us to jump" (unconfirmed reports that special forces carried out HALO [high altitude low opening] jumps from the bomb bay of a Vulcan bomber during operations to reclaim the Falkland Islands) Quote Link to comment
+vw_k Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 I use my GPS to waymark my car when I've parked at a big event - saves me having to remember where it was! I do this quite alot! Quote Link to comment
+bellringers Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 Use mine to geo tag my photographs...... Quote Link to comment
+Y2KOTA Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 I use my GPS to waymark my car when I've parked at a big event - saves me having to remember where it was! I do this quite alot! Thats a good idea! Quote Link to comment
+The Blorenges Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 ...or you could use your GPSr to get your face seen all over the World: The World's largest drawing. MrsB Quote Link to comment
+RAY9042 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 i use them on the fire engine at work. mark the position of the incident using the vehicle mounted terminal, radio it to control room, they relay it to other pumps, air ambulance etc etc, they input on their vehicle mounted terminals, very accurate os map displays and guides you in. one of the best equipment purchases the brigade ever made. Quote Link to comment
+Stuey Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 I use GPS at work for surveying the location and height of objects to within a few millimetres. If only I could get a hold of one of those GPSes for OpenStreetMap, pity they're so damned expensive! I missed this one first time round, but I'm now aware of the Open Source mapping project. Today I've used my GPS to add some streets to the map. I'll add more over the next few months. Free maps on my Garmin Oregon, sweet! Quote Link to comment
+keehotee Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 ...or you could use your GPSr to get your face seen all over the World: The World's largest drawing. MrsB Excellent -a GPS without an external antenna that picks up a signal through a plastic case and the screened hull of a plane..... where can I get one ?? Quote Link to comment
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