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DARPA Develops Non-GPS Navigation Chip

Posted by Soulskill on from the because-life-just-isn't-worth-living-otherwise dept.

Zothecula writes "The Global Positioning System (GPS) has proved a boon for those with a bad sense of direction, but the satellite-based system isn't without its shortcomings. Something as simple as going indoors or entering a tunnel can render the system useless. That might be inconvenient for civilians, but it's potentially disastrous to military users, for whom the system was originally built. DARPA is addressing such concerns with the development of a self-sufficient navigation system that can aid navigation when GPS is temporarily unavailable."

4 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Similar to some existing systems by MLBs · · Score: 5, Informative

    Embedded car GPS systems are linked to the car speed data, and when entering a long tunnel, will continue to move the position correctly.
    For this limited scenario, it appears to the user as if the GPS was active all along.

  2. Article misses the point by pavon · · Score: 5, Informative

    What the article is describing (an IMU) have been around forever (since before GPS), and pretty much any system that uses GPS for navigation has one to supplement the GPS. What is new here is the size; a full IMU on a single chip the size of your pinky finger nail. Pretty cool considering that not too long ago these used to comprise of multiple separate physical devices (gyrometer x3, accellerometer x3, magnetometer), but have been getting progressively smaller over the years. MEMs has come a long way.

  3. it IS existing systems in smaller package by rubycodez · · Score: 5, Informative

    nothing new about gyroscopes and accelerometers in a package, even an integrated circuit one.....this might be smaller or perhaps more accurate than some I've seen over the DECADES. but definitely no new tech or ideas here.

  4. Re:Don't they already have this? by OhSoLaMeow · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Missiles have had inertial navigation systems for some time now. Where's the advance that brings this technology to regular consumers?

    DC8 jets had inertial navigation systems back in the '60s. You could fly from LAX to Tokyo without touching the controls and the plane would only be a few hundred yards off alignment from the runway. Not bad for a 5000+ mile flight.

    --
    They can take my LifeAlert pendant when they pry it from my cold dead fingers.