Digital compass

In spite of the precision of the GPS (Global Positioning System), the simplest way to determine direction and location is still by a magnetic (mariner's) compass or gyro compass. Nowadays there are also electronic compasses. These compasses have no magnetic needle, but a magnetic sensor that is based on the Hall eftect. Such a sensor needs only a few components to show the directions north (N), north-east (NE), east (E), south-east (SE), south (S), south-west (SW), west (W), north-west (NW) on a compass card.