What is GNSS? What is the difference with GPS?

While GPS is a specific satellite navigation system managed by the United States, GNSS refers to the overall global technology that includes various such systems, enhancing the capabilities of satellite-based positioning services.

GNSS stands for Global Navigation Satellite System. It is a general term for satellite navigation systems that provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning with global coverage. This term includes a variety of satellite navigation systems, all of which provide data that determines location, velocity, and time, regardless of the user's location.

GPS (Global Positioning System), on the other hand, is a specific type of GNSS. It is the United States' satellite navigation system, consisting of more than 30 satellites orbiting the Earth. GPS provides location and time information under all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth, where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.

The main differences between GNSS and GPS are:

1. Coverage and Composition: GNSS encompasses all global satellite navigation systems, including GPS (USA), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (European Union), BeiDou (China), QZSS (Japan), IRNSS (India) and others. GPS is just one component of GNSS.
2. Capabilities: GNSS, as a collective term, can offer more accurate and reliable positioning because it can use satellites from different systems. For example, a device that can receive signals from both GPS and GLONASS satellites can provide more accurate positioning than one that only uses GPS.
3. Technological Infrastructure: Different systems within GNSS may use different satellite orbits, frequencies, and signal structures. GPS, being a specific system, follows a set structure and protocol defined by the U.S. government.