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Navigational instrument
Navigational instruments are instruments used by nautical navigators and pilots as tools of their trade. The purpose of navigation is to ascertain the present position and to determine the speed, direction, etc. to arrive at the port or point of destination.
Charts and drafting instruments
Direct measuring
Position finding instruments
Celestial navigation instruments
These instruments are used primarily to measure the elevation or altitude of a celestial object: These instruments are also used to measure the angular distance between objects:
Bearing instruments
Compasses
Timekeeping
All those mentioned were the traditional instruments used until well into the second half of the 20th century. After World War II electronic aids to navigation developed very rapidly and, to a great extent, replaced more traditional tools. Electronic speed and depth finders have totally replaced their older counterparts. Radar has become widespread even in small boats. Some Electronic aids to navigation like LORAN have already become obsolete themselves and have been replaced by GPS.
Electronic Travel Aid
As technologies are developed, designers and engineers have also turned their attention to minority groups like people that are visually impaired. In this case, Electronic Travel Aid are developed to target the needs of visual impaired individuals for obstacle identification as well as navigation of the surrounding to enhance mobility. Not only GPS systems, there are other approaches like infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors as well as optical technologies like cameras that are developed/ developing to enhance the navigation of the minority group.
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