Having barely learned to walk straight, the ancient people immediately began to explore the territory around them. Too far away from home, early man often had trouble finding his way home. A little later, people learned to navigate by the stars. And over time, the magnetic compass was invented. For many centuries, he faithfully served humanity, and today, for many, the compass is not only a device, but also an extremely useful computer program.
What device is called a compass?
Contrary to popular belief, the word "compass" did not come from Latin, German or English, but from Italian. It translates as "to measure with steps." For more than two thousand years of use of this device by mankind, the traditional magnetic compass has not changed much and is still popular.
Also unchanged is its purpose: as in the old days, so todaycompass is an instrument used to determine the cardinal directions. It is an indispensable assistant when orienting in unfamiliar terrain, especially in the forest.
History of Appearance
The inventors of the first compass were the Chinese. Back in the III century BC. they had a special device, consisting of a polished metal spoon, which was installed on a special dish with marks, and it played the role of a magnetized arrow.
After several centuries, the spoon was replaced with a magnetized needle, and the accuracy of the device increased. Since then, the compass has become mandatory on all Chinese ships, thanks to which they easily kept the right course.
This device came to Europe only in the second half of the 12th century with the Arabs, who borrowed it from the Chinese. Over the following centuries, the design of the compass improved.
Over time, scientists have discovered that the magnetic field of the planet Earth is not uniform, in addition, the poles drift. Due to these factors, sometimes the readings of the magnetic compass were incorrect. Therefore, a more reliable device was required. They became the gyrocompass, invented at the end of the 19th century.
In the 20th century, with the development of technology, a radio compass appeared, later replaced by electronic systems of GPS and the Russian GLONASS.
Due to the popularity of cell phones in the 21st century, the compass function in them can be performed by a mobile application using GPS. Anyone can download and use the Compass app on their phone. What it is and how it works, the modern owner of a mobile phone does not even need to know - everythingautomated.
Despite the popularity of the application, some cell phones also have an electronic device built into them. This device works like a traditional magnetic compass thanks to special magnetometer chips.
Types of magnetic compasses
All varieties of compasses are divided into two huge categories: magnetic and electronic.
As the name implies, any magnetic compass is a device in which the direction of the world is determined using a magnetized needle. In addition to the traditional compass, which is also called a tourist compass, this category also includes specialized devices.
Military. Unlike the traditional one, it is made of more durable metal and equipped with an additional lens and ruler.
Geological compass is a device with which you can not only navigate in space, but also determine at what angles the layers of geological rocks are located, thanks to the semi-limb and clinometer built into the device. In such a compass, unlike the traditional one, the scale is located counterclockwise.
Compass Bussol. It is improved with the help of a goniometric circle and a sighting device by a magnetic compass, specially adapted for the needs of artillery. Based on it, a marine compass called a direction finder was created.
Types of non-magnetic compasses
These types of compasses have a number of advantages over magnetic ones, since they use other methods for orientation.
Gyroscopic (gyrocompass). Does not depend on the earth's magnetic field, so it is more accurate. It focuses not on magnetic fields, but on the true pole of the Earth. Since the beginning of the 20th century, it has often been used not only on ships, but also on rocketry.
Astronomical compass. This device allows you to determine the position, focusing on celestial bodies - during the day on the Sun, at night on the stars. It is much more reliable than magnetic and gyroscopic compasses.
Its only weak point is cloudiness: if a celestial body does not fall into the visibility zone, it becomes impossible to determine the cardinal direction.
Radio compass - a device that determines the cardinal directions using radio waves.
Electronic compass. It was popular before the advent of digital compass programs. This device determined the direction of the world using electronic circuits that were guided by magnetic fields.
Digital compass. What it is is clear from the name itself. Unlike electronic, this device uses GPS and GLONASS to determine cardinal directions. In the digital compass mechanism is a tiny antenna that receives data on the cardinal directions from satellites. Due to its cheapness and practicality, many modern mobile phones and tablets are equipped with this device. It is enough just to install the appropriate program (if it is not included in the list of factory ones) and - a digital compass in the tablet.
What is the Compass system?
For many business people today the word"compass" has long been no longer associated with a device for determining the cardinal points. Since the Compass system has been especially popular on the domestic software market for many years.
This is a software product of the Russian company of the same name. With its help, enterprise management, regardless of its specialization, is greatly simplified. The system helps to control all areas of the company: from financial funds to personnel management.
Compass Program - what is it?
The name "Compass" is also carried by a group of programs of the well-known Russian developer company "Ascon".
"Compass" is an acronym for "Complex of Automated Systems". The purpose of these programs is the creation of engineering projects, as well as documentation for them in accordance with the required standards.
With the help of programs of the Compass family, you can create all kinds of three-dimensional models of drawings.
History of Compass
The first Compass program appeared in the late eighties and quickly gained popularity not only in the Russian market, but also in neighboring countries.
With the spread of the Windows operating system, it became necessary to adapt Compass for it, which was done in 1997.
Further, the program has evolved, adapting to the needs of users. So, starting in 2010, Compass users have the opportunity to work with it remotely.
Program Features
Thanks to the Compass program, you can create a three-dimensional image on your computerany solid object: from a tiny bolt to a whole train or building.
For ease of use, the program is equipped with an entire engineering library containing the most common schemes of parts, mechanisms and even architectural structures. These drawings in Compass can be edited as you wish, creating your own based on them. In addition, many processes are automated, which saves the user's time.
License versions
There is a whole line of programs of this kind. Most require a license to operate, so they tend to be used by businesses.
The most popular version is "Compass-3D" - a program that allows you to design three-dimensional models of products of any complexity. Since the beginning of the 2000s, new versions of this program have been released almost every year.
Compass-3D includes Compass-Graph, designed to automate design work in various fields.
The Compass-Builder program has been written especially for the construction industry. It not only helps to create drawings, but also allows you to bring the accompanying documentation to the appropriate standards.
Versions that can be used without a license
Many engineering students often cannot afford to purchase a licensed version of this program. Especially for them, several free versions were released - Compass-3D LT, Compass-3D Home and Educational version Compass-3D. It should be noted that all drawings made in Compass-3D LT, Home or Educational version are not intended for commercial use, which is indicated by a corresponding mark on each printed sheet of the finished drawing.
"Compass-3D LT", with the exception of a few limitations, has almost all the advantages of "Compass-3D". It is adapted to the school curriculum, but can also be used in various design circles.
Unlike the previous version, "Educational version" Compass-3D "" is not adapted for use in a school or other educational institution. This version is intended for home use or self-education. To install it on your computer, you just need to register on the official website.
Compass-3D Home version is functionally a complete copy of Compass-3D. It even includes some exclusive materials. However, the drawings created in it cannot be used for commercial purposes. In addition, some applications are missing in this version, and the ability to adapt drawings for other programs is limited.
News of recent years in the program
Since 2006, the appearance of the program has not been changed. However, the program "Compass-3D" V17, which is about to appear, for the first time in a long period contains major changes in the interface.
So the traditional color scheme has been changed to a calmer one, which has a beneficial effect on vision and less tiresome eyes. The blocks of business logic and interface will also be separated from each other. In addition, it will be possible to searchthe necessary information in the program using commands and parts tree.
Thanks to the innovations of the already released V16 and the future V17, the number of operations that the user performs to get a certain result in the program will be reduced by 30%.
Among other things, in the future, Compass will also be available to those users who have a Linux operating system on their computer (since 1997 to this day, the program has been adapted only for Windows).
Like many centuries ago, the compass remains a faithful assistant to man today. Only its functions have changed a little. Now the compass is not just a device for orientation in space, but also a family of programs with which you can create the most complex drawings.
