dead reckoning

n. navigation by calculation; method of determining the position of a plane or ship by making a graph of its course and speed from a previously known position

Dead reckoning (DR) is the process of estimating one's current position based upon a previously determined position, or fix, and advancing that position based upon known speed, elapsed time, and course. While traditional methods of dead reckoning are no longer considered primary in most applications, modern inertial navigation systems, which also depend upon dead reckoning, are very widely used.
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Dead reckoning may refer to:Dead reckoning, the process of estimating a global positionDead Reckoning (1947 film), a 1947 movie starring Humphrey BogartDead Reckoning (2007 film), a movie directed by Kantz scheduled for release in 2007Dead Reckoning (band), a rock band from Newfoundland, CanadaDead Reckoning (novel), a novel by Kenneth BulmerDead Reckoning, the original title to Land of the Dead, which was named after a tank-like vehicle featured heavily in the film that can venture out into the world of the living dead with relative ease, making an obvious double entendre of its name.Dead Reckoning (Song), an instrumental music track composed by Clint Mansell.Dead Reckoning, a 2007 album by the british progressive metal band ThresholdDead Reckoning Records, a record labelDead Reckoning (computer game), a 1997 computer game by Piranha Interactive
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Noun
1. an estimate based on little or no information
(synonym) guess, guesswork, guessing, shot
(hypernym) estimate, estimation, approximation, idea
2. navigation without the aid of celestial observations
(hypernym) navigation, pilotage, piloting

(n.)
See under Dead, a.
  

As applied to flying, the navigation of an airplane solely by means of computations based on airspeed, course, heading, wind direction, speed, groundspeed, and elapsed time. (FAA4)