The European Union launched a satellite system, EGNOS that could help pilots, drivers and blind people by providing the accuracy of the U.S. global positioning system (GPS) to around 2 meters.
The EGNOS system will use three satellites and 34 ground stations to refine the horizontal accuracy of GPS from around 7 meters to 2 meters. At the same time, it will also provide vertical accuracy to help pilots during landings.
The scientists also said that, it would be useful for spraying of fertilizers and even automatic tolling in the parking places.
The project was a part of ‘Safety-of-Life’ service for aircraft navigation, which is to be in force from the next year.
“It will make all personal navigation applications much more precise, giving birth to new possibilities like guiding aids for blind people,” the Commission said in statement.
This system is a precursor for the next satellite system Galileo project meant to provide GPS in Europe by 2014.
The EGNOS system is a collaborative initiative from the European Commission, the European Space Agency and aviation safety authority, Eurocontrol.
