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How often can modern GPS receivers update position and velocity information?
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GPS
U.S. Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite in orbit over Earth, shown in an artist's conception.
Modern GPS receivers are highly capable devices that calculate position and velocity by processing signals from multiple satellites.
Most standard GPS receivers provide at least one position and velocity update per second. However, for applications requiring higher frequency data, modern computer chips are capable of providing these updates as often as 40 times per second.1
These calculations are performed by the receiver's internal processing circuits, which solve algebraic equations based on signal travel time to determine location, and utilize instantaneous Doppler effect measurements to derive accurate velocity components.12