When it comes to navigation and giving directional assistance, GPS knows no limits. Researchers in Germany have been experimenting with how they can use GPS navigation to assist with transportation by air. They have been successful in showing that satellite navigation through GPS systems can be used for manually-flown helicopters. This makes since, since just as in a car that is on the ground, a helicopter that is being flown by a person, rather than a machine can use a little GPS assistance. The pilots how participated in these GPS tests did not report any problems with using such a system.

These experiments made use of one of the GPS industry’s top brands, Garmin. The modified Garmin navigation devices used by the German engineers are not ready to hit the market yet. However, these tests prove that GPS is not just for those who are on the ground.

Remember the Jetsons? Everyone was whizzing around in their own little flight machines, yet the traffic looked much like it does now. Well, maybe these nifty GPS devices for helicopters that were the subject of these German experiments will be available when we start flying around. But for now we are still driving on the ground and you can get a GPS navigation device to keep you on the right track. In the event that you still manage to get off course, a GPS device can re-route you.

GPS devices like the Garmin Nuvi 650 GPS Automotive Navigation System come pre-loaded with and accept points of interest (POIs), so they can point you to where you want to go. The POI database on many GPS devices also comes preloaded with information on scores of useful places like ATMs, hotels, restaurants and gas stations. Or they can help you remind you of that place you’ve been before when you can’t quite remember.