Non-GPS Navigation

ImageNav™ is a non-GPS precision navigation software that uses inertial navigation system information to match onboard camera imagery, including electro-optical and infra-red, against stored geo-registered digital terrain elevation data and imagery to determine the precise location of a suitable air vehicle in flight.

military jet and terrane photos

How ImageNav Works

ImageNav computes both absolute and relative navigation position updates through a sophisticated fusion of three distinct algorithms: Stereo Terrain Correlation captures overlapping images along a flight path using onboard electro-optical (EO) or infrared (IR) digital cameras, correlating real-time stereo elevation models with stored terrain references for precise geo-location determination; Image-Based Feature Matching matches image features in captured imagery with stored image references, providing additional navigation location; and Feature-Based Velocity Estimation tracks image features from frame to frame to constrain inertial navigation drift between position updates, ensuring robust and accurate positioning akin to GPS.

Benefits

Accurate Navigation Without GPS

Immunity to Jamming

Compact and Efficient Design

Versatile Integration

Complementary With Other Capabilities

ImageNav provides reliable navigation capabilities even in GPS-denied environments, safeguarding mission success in challenging scenarios where GPS signals may be jammed or unavailable.

By using multiple algorithms running in parallel, ImageNav delivers a GPS-like position that remains unaffected by jamming, ensuring uninterrupted navigation performance.

Running entirely “at-the-edge,” ImageNav boasts minimal size, weight, and power requirements. It can seamlessly integrate into existing air platforms with various deployment options, including software-only upgrades or self-contained hardware payloads.

ImageNav is adaptable to a range of defense systems, enabling integration into GPS-guided munitions and UASs. Its flexibility allows for seamless deployment across different platforms, empowering them to navigate precisely in GPS-denied environments.

ImageNav’s non-GPS navigation is complementary with our image-based collision detection, image-based precision landing capability, and intelligent taskable autonomy, all of which run on our multi-vehicle autonomy platform.

Validation Methods

Scientific Systems has conducted extensive validation tests to demonstrate the efficacy and reliability of ImageNav. Recent flight operations, including maneuvers from 25,000 feet down to 200 feet, have showcased the software’s robust performance. Furthermore, live weapon drop tests have confirmed ImageNav’s capability to navigate weapons during flight without GPS, ensuring target accuracy within the required performance envelope.

Non-GPS Navigation for GPS-Denied Environments diagram
News
February 21, 2024

Scientific Systems Develops Non-GPS Navigation for GPS-Denied Environments

Image-based solution provides non-GPS navigation for weapons, aircraft, and uncrewed aircraft systems WOBURN, Mass., February...

Learn More About ImageNav

Discover the future of precision navigation with ImageNav and learn more about integrating this AI-driven technology into your defense systems. Start the conversation now.

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