The Economist magazine highlights Scientific Systems' GPS-denied navigation solution, ImageNav
“Despite their successful implementation during the first Gulf War, map-based-cruise-missile-guidance systems eventually gave way to the more advanced and affordable approach that GPS provided. But critical dependencies with GPS are now motivating some to give map-based guidance systems a double take. Enter Scientific Systems’ ImageNav, which looks to usher in a new generation of smart weapons with even greater precision and reliability.
In January of this year, America’s Air Force signed a contract with Scientific Systems, a firm in Woburn, Massachusetts, to develop what that company calls its Image-Based Navigation and Precision Targeting (ImageNav) system. This bolt-on system works by comparing images from a camera with those in a database on board. The initial plan is to fit ImageNav to the air force’s Small Diameter Bomb, a free-fall weapon at present guided by GPS. If this is successful, deployment on cruise missiles and drones will follow.”
This article appeared in the Science and technology section of the print edition under the headline “The vision thing.” To be taken to the original article, please click here.
