Outstanding scientist and doctor of sciences on the topic “Navigation”.
Navigation is a branch of mathematics that deals with the determination of position, direction, and course. It is concerned with finding one’s way from one place to another. The word navigation comes from the Latin word for ship, navis. The first recorded use of the term in English was in 1513 by navigator Hugh Willoughby.
A person who practices navigation is called a navigator. A person who designs or maintains navigational systems is called a navigation engineer.
The history of navigation can be traced back to prehistoric times when people used landmarks and the stars to determine their location. Early mariners used compasses and maps to find their way at sea. In more recent history, electronicnavigational aids such as radar and GPS have made navigation much easier and more accurate.
There are many different types ofnavigation, including terrestrial, celestial, marine, aircraft, space, and land vehicle navigation. Each type has its own set of challenges and difficulties.
Terrestrial navigation makes use of features on the ground such as roads, railways, mountains, rivers, and buildings to determine position and direction. Celestialnavigation uses heavenly bodies such as the sun, moon, planets, and stars to find one’s way; it was once essential for maritime navigation but has now largely been replaced by electronic navigational aids . Marine navigation generally relies on nautical charts (maps) which show tide levels , currents , obstructions , buoys , etc., in addition to using compass bearings . Aircraftnavigation employs both ground-based ( VOR , DME )and satellite-based ( GNSS ) systems; it must take into account factors such as airspeed , wind speedand direction , atmospheric pressure , temperature , etc . Spacecraftnavigation differs from other forms in that there are no external reference points ; spacecraft must rely solelyon their internal sensors to navigate . Land vehiclenavigation makes use of roadsigns , odometry , dead reckoning , map matching , global positioning system (GPS), or a combination thereof .
Navigators have always had to contend with two fundamental problems: determining position accurately enough so that they can plot a courseto their destination; and keeping trackof changes in position so that they can follow that course accurately enough not too veer off track or arrive too far past (or before) their destination—in short: getting there safely without getting lost en route!