How a Musician Beat Space-Based GPS and Sold His Invention to the US Military
Monday, 13 October 2014
Australian Nunzio Gambale started out as a musician. In 1997 he was working with engineer David Small on what looked like a simple project: a location-based guide for Canberra using satellite GPS. Visiting a particular spot would trigger an audio file, such as commentary pointing out landmarks. But there was a problem. “GPS signals today are very unreliable – or totally non-existent – in a huge number of modern settings, from crowded downtowns to anywhere indoors,” says Gambale.
Nunzio and Dave needed something better than GPS.