Hyperbolic navigation is a radio-based system that determines location by measuring timing differences of signals from synchronized beacon transmitters, producing hyperbolic curves that intersect to pinpoint position. First used for acoustic artillery detection in World War I, hyperbolic radio systems like Gee, Decca, and LORAN were widely deployed in the mid-20th century until GPS and satellite navigation replaced them in the 1990s.
The Global Positioning System uses satellites orbiting Earth to help ships, airplanes, cars, and hikers determine their location with high accuracy. GPS works by measuring distances from a receiver to multiple satellites, with three or more distance measurements allowing the system to pinpoint a precise position through triangulation.