Differences between GNSS and GPS

The main differences between GNSS and GPS lie in their definition, application scope, and system composition.

Different definitions: GPS refers to the Global Positioning System, which is a high-precision radio navigation positioning system based on airborne satellites; GNSS refers to a global navigation satellite system that utilizes observations such as pseudorange, ephemeris, and satellite launch time from a set of satellites to provide users with all-weather 3D coordinates, velocity, and time information for any location on the Earth's surface or near Earth space.

Different application ranges: GPS is mainly used for navigation and positioning, attracting many users due to its high precision, all-weather, global coverage, and convenient and flexible features; GNSS, as a broader term, encompasses multiple satellite navigation systems, including GPS GLONASS、Galileo、 Beidou and other technologies provide more extensive and accurate positioning and navigation services.

The system composition is different: GPS is a single satellite navigation system developed by the US Department of Defense; GNSS is a general term that includes multiple satellite navigation systems that complement and are compatible with each other, providing global positioning and navigation services.