Waypoints located on the surface of the Earth are usually defined in two dimensions ( e.g., longitude and latitude) those used in the Earth's atmosphere or in outer space are defined in at least three dimensions (four if time is one of the coordinates, as it might be for some waypoints outside the Earth).Īlthough the term waypoint has only entered common use in recent years, the equivalent of a waypoint in all but name has existed for as long as human beings have navigated. Waypoints have only become widespread for navigational use by the layman since the development of advanced navigational systems, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) and certain other types of radio navigation. For terrestrial navigation these coordinates can include longitude and latitude. Coordinates used can vary depending on the application. Waypoints are sets of coordinates that identify a point in physical space. In air navigation, waypoints most often consist of a series of abstract GPS points that create artificial airways-"highways in the sky"-created specifically for purposes of air navigation that have no clear connection to features of the real world. When such a point corresponds to an element of physical geography on land, it can be referred to as a landmark. Hence, the term connotes a reference point in physical space, most often associated with navigation, especially in the sea or air-e.g., in the case of sea navigation, a longitudinal and latitudinal coordinate or a GPS point in open water, a location near a known mapped shoal or other entity in a body of water, a point a fixed distance off of a geographical entity such as a lighthouse or harbour entrance, etc. In modern terms, it most often refers to coordinates which specify one's position on the globe at the end of each "leg" (stage) of an air flight or sea passage, the generation and checking of which are generally done computationally (with a computer or other programmed device). A waypoint is an intermediate point or place on a route or line of travel, a stopping point or point at which course is changed, the first use of the term tracing to 1880.
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