Chinese scientists have developed its first high-precision
underwater positioning system, which is believed to be up to the
advanced international level.
The underwater global position system (GPS) can, apart from
internationally prevailing functions of monitoring and dynamic
positioning, pilot and position underwater objects in real time,
said Li Deren, a senior official with the National Remote Sensing
Center of China.
The system is a sign of China's accession to the top levels of
underwater GPS technology.
The system operates by gathering sound and GPS data from four
buoys and a GPS detector which is transferred to the system, which
computes the object's exact position.
Tests have indicated that in depths less than 45 meters,
horizontal position accuracy is within 5 cm and depth precision 30
cm.
(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2004)