Aug 22,2024
Navigation from star guidance to satellite positioning
From stargazing and positioning to mobile phone positioning, navigation has emerged with the development of human society and has been a necessary reliance for people to travel far from ancient times to the present, reducing the embarrassment of taking the wrong path and not finding direction. Today, navigation has become an essential tool for people to find their way and constantly create a better life.
From stargazing and positioning to mobile phone positioning, navigation has emerged with the development of human society and has been a necessary reliance for people to travel far from ancient times to the present, reducing the embarrassment of taking the wrong path and not finding direction. Today, navigation has become an essential tool for people to find their way and constantly create a better life.
1. Observing stars and identifying positions
How did ancient people find the right direction when traveling without satellite navigation? In fact, besides asking, the simplest thing is to search for some unchanging natural landmarks.
The ancient Europeans around 3000 BC created the most primitive maps by recording the location of natural stone mountains, enabling navigation within a certain area. In ancient China, rulers built official roads to let people know how far they had traveled and where they were. Generally speaking, people can reach their destination by following the official road and the instructions on the road. In order to measure the distance, at regular intervals, the government will pile up a stone or soil pile next to the official road as a road sign, called a "hu" (pronounced h ò u), with a single hu of 5 miles and a double hu of 10 miles, indicating the mileage of the road from the starting point to the destination.
In ancient books such as the Classic of Mountains and Seas, the term "hou" was mentioned, and a more clear and direct record can be found in the "Northern History": Wei Xiaokuan once served as the governor of Yongzhou. At that time, there was a earthen moat every mile along the road of Yongzhou. Due to being frequently washed away by rainwater, Wei Xiaokuan ordered the planting of locust trees to replace the earthen moat after taking office. Later, this method was promoted, planting one tree every mile, three trees every ten miles, and five trees every hundred miles in various regions. However, due to social unrest at that time, by the Tang Dynasty, "hou" was still mainly composed of mounds of soil and stone. In history, in addition to the above-mentioned forms, people also used the method of erecting steles to build "hous". In order to prevent damage, the authorities even arrange for dedicated personnel to manage navigation signs.
In addition, there were relay stations on ancient official roads. During the Han Dynasty, there was a relay station every thirty miles. During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, relay stations were spread throughout the country. Marco Polo once recorded, "In uninhabited areas with no roads to pass through, such relay stations must also be established." This means that many remote places at that time also had relay stations. Until the Ming and Qing dynasties, post stations were still an indispensable part of the ancient land "navigation system".
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Aug 22,2024
Navigation from star guidance to satellite positioning
From stargazing and positioning to mobile phone positioning, navigation has emerged with the development of human society and has been a necessary reliance for people to travel far from ancient times to the present, reducing the embarrassment of taking the wrong path and not finding direction. Today, navigation has become an essential tool for people to find their way and constantly create a better life.
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