Definition of the word navigation system

The term "navigation system" originated during the Age of Discovery in the 15th century when the world began to be explored beyond known territories. Initially, navigators relied solely on celestial navigation, which involved using the position of the stars to determine latitude and longitude. However, this method was often imprecise, and alternative techniques were needed. One such method was the use of magnetic compasses, a technology that had been invented in China over a thousand years earlier. The compass allowed sailors to determine their course and heading, but it was not foolproof. Variations in the Earth's magnetic field, known as magnetic declination, made navigation using a compass alone a challenging task. To address this issue, navigators began to develop systems that combined various methods, such as the celestial navigation, dead reckoning (estimating position based on speed and direction), and graduate methods (using tabular tables for navigation computations). These systems, often known as "navigational systems," sought to provide sailors with the most accurate possible position of their ships, enabling them to navigate safely and efficiently, particularly at sea. The term "navigation system" has since been applied to any technology or set of procedures used to determine and follow the best route from one location to another, whether by land, sea, or air.