What does DEAD RECKONING rely on for estimating current position?

Dead reckoning is a navigation technique used to estimate a current position based on previously known positions combined with the movement over time. This method requires a starting point, which is a known location, and it tracks movement using data such as speed, time, and direction. By continuing to calculate the changes from that known position, it allows navigators to approximate their current location without the need for external references.

This technique is particularly useful in situations where GPS signals may be unreliable or unavailable. It heavily depends on accurate calculations of the distance traveled and the direction traveled from the last known position. This method can accumulate error over time if the estimates of movement are not precise, but it serves as a fundamental navigational approach in a variety of fields such as aviation, maritime, and even some ground-based contexts.