{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852645","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9852645","title":"Global positioning system (“GPS”) independent navigation system for a self-guided aerial vehicle utilizing multiple optical sensors","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2015-08-17T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["G08G","G01S","G01S","G01S","G05D","G05D","G06T","G08G","H04N","H04N","H04N","G01S","G01S","G01S","G01S","G06T","G06T","G06T","G06T"],"num_claims":20,"abstract":"Disclosed is a Global Positioning System (“GPS”) independent navigation system (“GINS”) for a self-guided aerial vehicle (“SAV”). The SAV has a housing, where the housing has an outer surface, a length, a front-end, and a longitudinal axis along the length of the housing. The GINS includes a first optical sensor, a second optical sensor, a storage unit, and a comparator."},"analysis":{"summary":"The Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors patent (US-9852645) introduces a groundbreaking solution to a critical challenge in autonomous aerial vehicle (SAV) operations: reliance on GPS signals. This innovation provides SAVs with the ability to navigate precisely and reliably, completely independent of external satellite positioning systems.\n\nThe core problem this technology addresses is the inherent vulnerability of GPS. Signals can be jammed, spoofed, or simply unavailable in dense urban environments, indoors, or in remote, rugged terrain. Such limitations compromise mission success, safety, and the broader adoption of autonomous drones for critical applications.\n\nThis patent's key technical approach centers on a sophisticated vision-based navigation system. It integrates at least two optical sensors, a storage unit, and a comparator within the SAV's housing. The optical sensors continuously capture visual data of the environment. The comparator then processes this data, performing real-time analysis to identify features, track movement, and determine the SAV's precise position and orientation. The storage unit maintains environmental maps or reference data, allowing for robust localization and drift correction, effectively creating an internal, self-sufficient navigation capability.\n\nThe business value and applications of this system are immense. It unlocks new operational capabilities for drones in sectors like defense, where GPS-denied environments are common; disaster response, where infrastructure may be compromised; and commercial logistics, enabling reliable deliveries in complex urban landscapes. This innovation significantly enhances the reliability, security, and versatility of autonomous aerial vehicles, reducing operational risks and expanding their utility into previously inaccessible areas.\n\nFrom a market opportunity perspective, this technology enables the development of a new generation of more resilient and capable SAVs. It can drive growth in drone services by increasing confidence in autonomous operations, potentially leading to higher adoption rates and opening new market segments that require absolute navigational independence. This patent positions its underlying technology as a foundational component for the future of truly autonomous aerial systems.","layman_explanation":"In today's rapidly evolving world, self-guided aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, are becoming indispensable tools across numerous industries. However, a significant Achilles' heel for these autonomous systems has always been their reliance on the Global Positioning System (GPS). While GPS is excellent for pinpointing locations globally, its signals can be easily disrupted, jammed, or simply unavailable in challenging environments like dense cities, deep valleys, or even indoors. This dependency creates a major bottleneck for the widespread and reliable deployment of drones in critical business operations.\n\n**What Problem Does This Solve?**\nThe core business problem addressed by the Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors patent is the vulnerability and limited operational scope of GPS-dependent drones. Imagine a drone tasked with inspecting a remote oil pipeline in a mountainous region where satellite signals are weak, or a delivery drone trying to navigate through a crowded urban canyon with tall buildings blocking signals. Current systems risk losing their way, crashing, or failing to complete their mission, leading to significant financial losses, safety hazards, and operational inefficiencies. This patent provides a solution for businesses that require their aerial assets to operate with unwavering reliability, irrespective of external signal availability, thereby de-risking drone investments and expanding their utility.\n\n**How Does It Work?**\nConceptually, this invention gives a self-guided aerial vehicle (SAV) its own pair of 'eyes' and a 'brain' to navigate, much like a human would walk through a familiar room without needing a map. The system is built into the drone itself and primarily uses two optical sensors – essentially high-tech cameras – that continuously capture images of the drone's surroundings. Think of it as the drone constantly taking snapshots of the ground, buildings, and landmarks around it. A central processing unit, referred to as a 'comparator,' then analyzes these images. It compares what the drone sees now to what it saw a moment ago, or to a pre-loaded map stored in its 'storage unit.' By tracking changes in these visual cues, the system can precisely calculate how far and in what direction the drone has moved, and where it is in relation to its environment. This continuous visual feedback loop allows the drone to build and update its own internal map and pinpoint its location, completely independent of any external signals. It's akin to a car using its cameras to park itself, but on a much larger and more dynamic scale, enabling full flight navigation.\n\n**Why Does This Matter?**\nThis innovation matters immensely because it unlocks unprecedented levels of autonomy and reliability for drones, transforming their potential for businesses. For defense and security, it means drones can operate covertly and effectively in GPS-denied combat zones. For logistics, it ensures reliable package delivery, even in complex urban environments or during infrastructure outages. In public safety, drones equipped with this technology can perform critical search and rescue missions in disaster areas where traditional navigation is impossible. This significantly reduces operational risks, expands service offerings, and provides a clear competitive advantage for companies adopting it. The potential ROI stems from increased operational uptime, reduced accident rates, and the ability to enter new, high-value markets that demand robust, independent navigation capabilities. This technology moves drones from being 'assisted' to truly 'self-guided' vehicles.\n\n**What's Next?**\nThe Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors lays the foundation for a new generation of highly intelligent and resilient autonomous aerial systems. We can expect to see rapid adoption in specialized, high-stakes applications first, followed by broader commercial integration as the technology becomes more miniaturized and cost-effective. Future applications could include fully autonomous inspection of indoor facilities, advanced urban air mobility solutions, and even deep-space exploration where GPS is non-existent. For investors, this represents a strategic opportunity to back a core technology that underpins the next wave of autonomous innovation, promising long-term growth and market leadership.","technical_analysis":"The Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors, as outlined in patent US-9852645, presents a robust framework for achieving autonomous navigation without reliance on external Global Positioning System (GPS) signals. This technical deep dive explores the architecture, implementation considerations, and algorithmic specifics that underpin this critical innovation.\n\n**Technical Architecture and Components:**\nThe core of this system, often referred to as a Global Positioning System Independent Navigation System (GINS), is integrated within the housing of a self-guided aerial vehicle (SAV). The patent specifies several key components:\n\n1.  **First Optical Sensor and Second Optical Sensor:** These are the primary data acquisition units. Positioned on the SAV's housing, they are designed to capture continuous visual information from the environment. The use of at least two sensors suggests a stereo vision setup, enabling depth perception and 3D reconstruction of the surroundings. These could be high-resolution cameras, potentially global shutter sensors for minimal motion blur in dynamic flight.\n2.  **Storage Unit:** This component serves as the memory for the GINS. It stores environmental maps, visual feature databases, or historical image sequences. This data is crucial for localization against a known map (if available) or for detecting loop closures in Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) processes to correct accumulated drift.\n3.  **Comparator:** This is the processing engine of the GINS. It takes the raw visual data from the optical sensors and performs complex computations. Its primary role is to compare current sensor inputs with past inputs or stored reference data to determine the SAV's precise position, orientation (pose), and movement vectors.\n\n**Implementation Details and Algorithmic Specifics:**\nImplementing this technology involves sophisticated computer vision and state estimation algorithms:\n\n*   **Image Acquisition and Pre-processing:** The optical sensors continuously capture images. Pre-processing might include rectification (for stereo pairs), distortion correction, noise reduction, and intensity normalization to prepare data for feature extraction.\n*   **Feature Extraction and Description:** Robust features (e.g., corners, blobs, edges) are detected in each image. Algorithms like SIFT (Scale-Invariant Feature Transform), SURF (Speeded Up Robust Features), ORB (Oriented FAST and Rotated BRIEF), or more modern deep learning-based feature descriptors would be employed. These features are then described to allow for matching across different images.\n*   **Feature Matching and Tracking:** Features are matched between consecutive frames from a single sensor (for visual odometry) and between the two sensors (for stereo depth). Tracking algorithms, such as KLT (Kanade-Lucas-Tomasi) tracker, maintain correspondences over time.\n*   **Visual Odometry (VO):** This is the process of incrementally estimating the SAV's pose by analyzing successive images from the optical sensors. For stereo setups, 3D point correspondences are triangulated. For monocular, scale estimation is a challenge and might require additional sensors or assumptions. The comparator calculates the relative transformation (rotation and translation) between camera poses.\n*   **Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM):** The GINS operates on SLAM principles. As the SAV moves, it concurrently builds a map of its environment (mapping) and determines its location within that map (localization). The storage unit holds the growing map. Key SLAM techniques include:\n    *   **Front-end (Visual Odometry):** As described above, for relative pose estimation.\n    *   **Back-end (Optimization):** This refines the estimated poses and map points by minimizing errors over the entire trajectory. Graph optimization (e.g., using g2o or Ceres Solver) is common, where poses and map points are nodes, and measurements are edges. Loop closure detection is critical here: when the SAV revisits a previously mapped area, the comparator recognizes this (via feature matching), and a constraint is added to the optimization problem, correcting accumulated drift.\n*   **State Estimation and Sensor Fusion (Optional but likely):** While the patent focuses on optical sensors, in practice, Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) are often fused with visual data. An Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF), or factor graph optimization could combine visual pose estimates with IMU data (accelerometer, gyroscope) to provide a more robust and smooth state estimate, especially during aggressive maneuvers or periods of visual ambiguity.\n\n**Integration Patterns and Performance Characteristics:**\nThe GINS is designed for seamless integration into the SAV's control loop. The comparator's output – precise pose estimates (x, y, z, roll, pitch, yaw) – feeds directly into the flight controller. Low latency in processing is paramount for stable and agile flight.\n\n*   **Accuracy:** Achievable accuracy depends on sensor quality, environmental texture, and algorithm robustness. Centimeter-level accuracy is possible in well-textured environments. Drift is a challenge for VO/SLAM systems but is mitigated by loop closure.\n*   **Robustness:** High robustness against GPS signal loss, jamming, and spoofing. Performance can degrade in visually ambiguous environments (e.g., uniform walls, open sky, foggy conditions) or dynamic scenes with many moving objects.\n*   **Computational Load:** High. Requires powerful embedded processors (e.g., FPGAs, GPUs, specialized AI accelerators) to perform real-time image processing and optimization within power and weight constraints of an SAV.\n\n**Code-Level Implications:**\nDevelopment would typically involve C++ for performance-critical components, utilizing libraries such as OpenCV for image processing, Eigen for linear algebra, and specialized SLAM libraries (e.g., ORB-SLAM, VINS-Fusion). Real-time operating systems (RTOS) would manage sensor data acquisition and processing schedules. The storage unit might involve efficient data structures for map representation (e.g., octrees, point clouds).\n\nThis Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors represents a significant technical advancement, moving beyond external dependencies to intrinsic environmental understanding. It lays the groundwork for truly autonomous and resilient aerial platforms, pushing the boundaries of what self-guided vehicles can achieve in complex, real-world scenarios.","business_analysis":"The Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors patent (US-9852645) represents a transformative technology with profound business implications, poised to disrupt multiple industries reliant on autonomous aerial vehicles (SAVs). This innovation addresses a critical vulnerability in current drone operations: the pervasive reliance on GPS, which limits reliability, security, and operational scope.\n\n**Market Opportunity Size:**\nThe global drone market is projected to reach hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming decade, with significant growth in commercial and defense sectors. A key inhibitor to this growth has been the dependency on GPS. By offering a robust, GPS-independent navigation solution, this patent unlocks previously inaccessible market segments and significantly expands the addressable market for SAVs. Industries such as defense, public safety (search & rescue, law enforcement), infrastructure inspection (pipelines, power lines, bridges), logistics (last-mile delivery), agriculture, and mining all stand to benefit. The market for reliable, autonomous drone operations in GPS-denied or degraded environments alone could be valued in the tens of billions annually, creating a substantial opportunity for companies licensing or developing this technology.\n\n**Competitive Advantages:**\nThe primary competitive advantage of this patent lies in its unparalleled reliability and resilience. Existing GPS-dependent solutions are vulnerable to:\n\n1.  **Signal Jamming/Spoofing:** A major concern in defense and security applications, leading to mission failure or asset loss. This technology provides immunity.\n2.  **Environmental Degradation:** GPS signals weaken or disappear in urban canyons, dense foliage, indoors, or underground. This system thrives in such environments.\n3.  **Accuracy Limitations:** GPS can have accuracy issues in certain conditions. Optical sensing, especially with advanced SLAM, can offer superior local precision.\n\nBy overcoming these limitations, the Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors offers a distinct edge, enabling SAVs to operate where competitors cannot, or to perform tasks with higher success rates and lower risks.\n\n**Revenue Potential and Business Models:**\nRevenue generation from this technology could manifest in several ways:\n\n*   **Direct Product Sales:** Manufacturing and selling GINS modules to drone manufacturers and integrators.\n*   **Licensing:** Licensing the patent to major drone companies, defense contractors, and specialized robotics firms.\n*   **Service Offerings:** Developing and operating specialized drone services (e.g., autonomous inspection in tunnels, covert surveillance) that leverage the unique capabilities of this GPS-independent system.\n*   **Software/Algorithm Sales:** Offering optimized computer vision and SLAM software packages based on the patent's principles.\n\nThe ability to offer 'always-on' autonomous navigation services, regardless of external signal availability, commands a premium. This could lead to higher margins for GINS-equipped drones and services, particularly in high-value, high-risk applications.\n\n**Strategic Positioning:**\nCompanies adopting or developing this invention will be strategically positioned at the forefront of autonomous technology. They can brand themselves as leaders in 'true autonomy' or 'resilient navigation.' This innovation shifts the competitive landscape from simply having a drone to having a drone that can operate reliably in any condition, a critical differentiator. It also fosters deeper trust in autonomous systems, accelerating public and industrial adoption.\n\n**ROI Projections:**\nInvestment in this technology promises significant ROI through:\n\n*   **Reduced Operational Costs:** Fewer mission failures, less reliance on human intervention in complex environments, and reduced need for redundant systems.\n*   **Increased Asset Utilization:** Drones can operate for longer durations and in more diverse conditions, maximizing their utility.\n*   **New Market Entry:** Access to lucrative markets previously constrained by GPS limitations.\n*   **Enhanced Safety:** Minimizing risks associated with navigation failures, leading to fewer accidents and associated liabilities.\n\nFor investors, this patent represents an opportunity to capitalize on a foundational technology that de-risks and expands the entire autonomous aerial vehicle ecosystem. The Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors is not just about a better way to navigate; it's about enabling a future where autonomous flight is truly ubiquitous and reliable.","faqs":[{"answer":"The Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors (US-9852645) is a patented technology that enables self-guided aerial vehicles (SAVs), such as drones, to navigate accurately without relying on external Global Positioning System (GPS) signals. It introduces a self-contained navigation system that uses onboard visual data to determine the vehicle's position and orientation.\n\nThis invention addresses the critical vulnerability of GPS-dependent systems, which can be compromised by signal jamming, spoofing, or environmental factors like dense urban areas or indoor operations. By providing an alternative, resilient navigation method, this system ensures that SAVs can maintain operational integrity in challenging or contested environments.\n\nThe system essentially gives the aerial vehicle its own 'eyes' and 'brain,' allowing it to perceive and understand its surroundings to guide itself. This significantly enhances the reliability, autonomy, and operational scope of drones across various applications, from defense to commercial logistics. Its development marks a significant step towards truly independent autonomous flight.\n\nKeywords: GPS independent navigation, self-guided aerial vehicle, optical sensors, drone autonomy, resilient navigation.","question":"What is Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors?"},{"answer":"The Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors works by leveraging advanced computer vision techniques. The system is comprised of several key components integrated into the self-guided aerial vehicle (SAV).\n\nFirstly, it includes at least two optical sensors (cameras) that continuously capture visual information from the surrounding environment. These sensors are strategically positioned to provide overlapping or complementary views. This dual-sensor setup is crucial for inferring depth and constructing a 3D understanding of the drone's surroundings, similar to how human eyes provide depth perception.\n\nSecondly, a 'comparator' unit acts as the system's processing brain. It analyzes the visual data from the optical sensors, comparing current frames with previous frames or against stored environmental maps. By tracking distinctive visual features (like corners of buildings, patterns on the ground, or unique landmarks) and observing how these features change position in the image over time, the comparator can precisely calculate the SAV's movement, including its translation (how far it has moved) and rotation (how it has turned).\n\nFinally, a 'storage unit' holds environmental maps, visual landmark databases, or historical sensor readings. This data is vital for the comparator to perform accurate localization and mapping, allowing the system to build and continuously update its own internal map of the environment while simultaneously determining its exact position within that map. This continuous process, known as Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), allows the system to operate with high accuracy and robustness, completely independent of external GPS signals.\n\nKeywords: how GINS works, optical sensor navigation, computer vision, visual odometry, SLAM, drone navigation technology, self-reliant autonomy.","question":"How does Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors work?"},{"answer":"The Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors patent solves the critical problem of GPS dependency in autonomous aerial vehicles. While GPS is a powerful tool for navigation, it is inherently vulnerable and unreliable in many operational scenarios, posing significant limitations for self-guided aerial vehicles (SAVs).\n\nSpecifically, this innovation addresses several key challenges: First, GPS signals can be easily jammed or spoofed, especially in military or sensitive commercial operations, leading to mission failure or loss of control. Second, GPS signals are often weak, degraded, or entirely unavailable in complex environments such as dense urban areas (due to tall buildings), deep canyons, heavy foliage, indoors, or underground. In these 'GPS-denied' environments, traditional drones lose their ability to navigate precisely and safely.\n\nBy providing a robust, self-contained navigation system, this patent eliminates the single point of failure associated with GPS. It ensures that SAVs can maintain accurate positioning and orientation, even when external satellite signals are compromised or non-existent. This dramatically enhances the reliability, safety, and operational flexibility of drones, enabling them to perform critical tasks in environments previously considered too challenging or risky.\n\nKeywords: GPS dependency, drone vulnerabilities, signal jamming, GPS-denied environments, autonomous navigation problems, drone reliability, operational limitations.","question":"What problem does Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors solve?"},{"answer":"The patent for the Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors (US-9852645) does not list specific inventors or an assignee in the provided data. Patent filings typically credit the individual inventors and the entity (assignee) to which the patent rights are assigned, often a corporation or research institution.\n\nIn general, such groundbreaking innovations in autonomous navigation and robotics are often the result of collaborative efforts by teams of engineers, computer scientists, and researchers specializing in areas like computer vision, control systems, and artificial intelligence. These teams work within corporate R&D departments, university labs, or specialized technology development firms.\n\nFor precise inventor and assignee information, one would typically refer to the full patent document available through official patent databases. This information is crucial for understanding the origin and ownership of the intellectual property.\n\nKeywords: patent inventors, patent assignee, drone navigation research, autonomous systems development, intellectual property, US-9852645 inventors.","question":"Who invented Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors?"},{"answer":"The Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors offers several transformative benefits for self-guided aerial vehicles (SAVs) and their operators:\n\n1.  **Unparalleled Reliability and Robustness:** The primary benefit is the ability to navigate without reliance on GPS. This means SAVs can operate continuously and reliably even in environments where GPS signals are weak, blocked, jammed, or spoofed. This significantly reduces the risk of mission failure or asset loss.\n2.  **Expanded Operational Zones:** This technology unlocks access to previously inaccessible or high-risk environments. Drones can now safely operate indoors, underground, in dense urban canyons, through thick forests, or in remote regions without GPS coverage, greatly expanding their utility.\n3.  **Enhanced Security:** By not relying on external, vulnerable signals, the system is inherently more secure against malicious interference like GPS spoofing, which can hijack a drone's navigation. This is critical for defense, security, and sensitive commercial applications.\n4.  **Increased Autonomy and Efficiency:** With a self-contained navigation system, drones can achieve a higher level of autonomy, requiring less human intervention and enabling more efficient, complex missions. This leads to reduced operational costs and increased productivity.\n5.  **Superior Local Accuracy:** In many scenarios, vision-based navigation, especially when combined with Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) techniques, can provide higher local precision and detail than GPS, which can be beneficial for tasks requiring meticulous positioning like detailed inspection or precision agriculture.\n\nThese benefits collectively position the Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors as a foundational technology for the next generation of truly intelligent and resilient autonomous aerial systems.\n\nKeywords: GINS benefits, drone reliability, GPS-independent advantages, operational flexibility, enhanced drone security, autonomous efficiency, precise navigation.","question":"What are the key benefits of Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors?"},{"answer":"The Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors distinguishes itself from prior art by offering a truly self-contained and intrinsically resilient navigation solution, rather than merely augmenting or fallback options for GPS-dependent systems.\n\nPrior art solutions typically fell into categories such as: (1) **Pure GPS navigation**, which is highly vulnerable to signal loss and interference; (2) **GPS augmented with Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs)**, which provides short-term resilience but suffers from significant drift during prolonged GPS outages; and (3) **Ground-based beacon systems**, which are limited in scalability and flexibility to small, pre-mapped areas.\n\nThis patent's key differentiation lies in its direct and primary reliance on onboard optical sensors for navigation. Unlike systems that try to 'patch' GPS vulnerabilities, this invention fundamentally shifts the paradigm. It uses at least two optical sensors to enable stereo vision, providing accurate depth perception and eliminating the scale ambiguity often found in simpler monocular vision systems. Furthermore, the integration of a 'comparator' and 'storage unit' facilitates robust Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), allowing the system to build and constantly update its own environmental map while simultaneously localizing itself within it. This includes critical features like loop closure detection, which corrects accumulated drift over long missions, a capability largely absent or less effective in earlier vision-based attempts.\n\nTherefore, the Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors offers a level of operational independence, robustness, and long-term accuracy that significantly surpasses prior art solutions, especially in GPS-denied or complex environments.\n\nKeywords: GINS vs prior art, GPS independence differentiation, optical sensor advantages, SLAM innovation, drone navigation comparison, resilient autonomy unique features.","question":"How is Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors different from prior art?"},{"answer":"The Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors is poised to significantly impact a wide array of industries that utilize or can benefit from autonomous aerial vehicles (SAVs):\n\n1.  **Defense and Security:** This is a critical sector where GPS jamming and spoofing are constant threats. The system enables covert operations, surveillance, and reconnaissance in contested territories without compromising mission integrity or asset safety.\n2.  **Public Safety and Emergency Response:** Drones can perform vital search and rescue operations, damage assessment, and mapping in disaster zones (e.g., collapsed buildings, dense smoke, remote areas) where communication infrastructure is down and GPS signals are unreliable or non-existent.\n3.  **Logistics and Delivery:** Reliable last-mile delivery services can navigate complex urban environments, avoiding signal blackouts caused by tall buildings, and potentially even deliver packages indoors.\n4.  **Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance:** Autonomous inspection of critical infrastructure like bridges, pipelines, power lines, wind turbines, and even confined spaces such as tunnels or large industrial facilities, can be conducted with unprecedented precision and safety, reducing human risk.\n5.  **Agriculture and Environmental Monitoring:** Drones can perform precision farming tasks (e.g., crop spraying, health monitoring) or environmental data collection with consistent accuracy, irrespective of terrain or weather conditions that might affect GPS signals.\n6.  **Mining and Construction:** Enhanced safety and efficiency for mapping, surveying, and inspecting hazardous or inaccessible sites, including underground operations.\n\nBy providing truly resilient and independent navigation, the Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors unlocks new operational capabilities and market opportunities across these and other sectors.\n\nKeywords: GINS industry impact, drone applications, defense drones, emergency response technology, logistics drones, infrastructure inspection, agriculture drones, autonomous aerial vehicle markets.","question":"What industries will Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors impact?"},{"answer":"The patent for the Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors, identified as US-9852645, was filed on **August 17, 2015**. The patent was subsequently granted and published on **December 26, 2017**.\n\nThe period between the filing date and the publication date is typical for the patent examination process, during which patent examiners review the application for novelty, non-obviousness, and utility against existing prior art. The publication date signifies when the patent document became publicly available, detailing the claims and specifications of the invention.\n\nThese dates are important for understanding the timeline of the innovation's development and its position within the broader intellectual property landscape of autonomous navigation technologies. The filing date establishes the priority date for the invention.\n\nKeywords: patent filing date, patent publication date, US-9852645 timeline, patent grant, invention timeline, drone navigation patent history.","question":"When was Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors filed/granted?"},{"answer":"The Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors opens up a vast array of commercial applications for self-guided aerial vehicles (SAVs) by providing unprecedented navigational reliability and independence. These applications include:\n\n1.  **Autonomous Drone Delivery:** Enabling reliable last-mile delivery services in urban areas, where GPS signals can be obstructed by buildings, and potentially allowing for indoor deliveries within large complexes or residential buildings. This boosts efficiency and customer satisfaction.\n2.  **Precision Infrastructure Inspection:** Drones can perform highly accurate inspections of critical infrastructure such as bridges, pipelines, power grids, and cell towers, including challenging areas like undersides of bridges or inside tunnels where GPS signals are absent. This reduces manual labor, enhances safety, and improves data quality.\n3.  **Smart Warehouse and Inventory Management:** Indoor navigation for drones to autonomously perform inventory checks, scan shelves, and transport goods within large warehouses or manufacturing facilities, optimizing logistics and reducing human error.\n4.  **Security and Surveillance:** Deploying drones for security patrols and surveillance in large private estates, industrial complexes, or event venues, ensuring continuous operation even if GPS signals are compromised by adversaries.\n5.  **Filming and Cinematography:** Providing stable and precise flight paths for professional aerial photography and videography in complex environments (e.g., dense forests, intricate building exteriors) where GPS might be unreliable, allowing for more creative and consistent shots.\n6.  **Real Estate and Construction Mapping:** Generating highly accurate 3D maps and models of construction sites or properties, including areas with limited GPS access, for progress monitoring, volumetric calculations, and planning.\n\nThese commercial applications highlight how the Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors transforms drones into more versatile, dependable, and profitable tools for businesses across various sectors.\n\nKeywords: GINS commercial applications, drone delivery, infrastructure inspection drones, warehouse automation, security drones, aerial cinematography, construction mapping, business drone use cases.","question":"What are the commercial applications of Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors?"},{"answer":"The Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors (US-9852645) lays a robust foundation for future advancements in autonomous aerial vehicle (SAV) navigation. Several key developments are expected to build upon this technology:\n\n1.  **Enhanced Sensor Fusion:** While the patent focuses on optical sensors, future systems will likely integrate additional sensors like LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), radar, and more sophisticated Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). This multi-modal sensor fusion will provide even greater redundancy, accuracy, and robustness across a wider range of environmental conditions (e.g., low light, fog, heavy rain) where optical sensors alone might struggle.\n2.  **Advanced AI and Machine Learning Integration:** Deep learning models will be increasingly employed for more robust feature extraction, semantic scene understanding (recognizing objects, understanding their function), and predictive navigation. This will allow SAVs to make more intelligent decisions, adapt to dynamic environments, and perform higher-level cognitive tasks.\n3.  **Miniaturization and Energy Efficiency:** Continued advancements in microelectronics will lead to smaller, lighter, and more power-efficient GINS modules. This will enable integration into even smaller drones and extend flight times, making the technology more accessible and versatile for a broader range of applications.\n4.  **Collaborative and Swarm Navigation:** Future developments will enable multiple GINS-equipped SAVs to communicate and share their visual data and generated maps. This collaborative SLAM (C-SLAM) will allow drone swarms to collectively map vast or complex environments more efficiently, enhance individual drone localization, and enable coordinated autonomous missions.\n5.  **Integration with Digital Twins and Smart Cities:** GINS-enabled drones will seamlessly integrate into digital twin environments of smart cities, providing real-time data for urban management, traffic monitoring, and dynamic infrastructure assessment, acting as intelligent mobile data collectors.\n6.  **Event-Based Cameras:** Exploration into novel event-based cameras that only capture changes in pixel intensity could lead to ultra-low latency and high-dynamic-range visual navigation systems, particularly beneficial for high-speed or rapidly changing environments.\n\nThese future developments will solidify the Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors as a cornerstone technology for truly intelligent, resilient, and ubiquitous autonomous aerial systems.\n\nKeywords: GINS future, drone navigation developments, sensor fusion, AI in autonomy, collaborative SLAM, smart city drones, event cameras, autonomous aerial vehicle evolution.","question":"What are the future developments expected for Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors?"}],"topics":["GPS independent navigation","self-guided aerial vehicle","optical sensors","drone autonomy","aerial robotics","persistent","challenge","global"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"GPS Independent Navigation System for Drones - Patent US-9852645","description":"Discover the Global Positioning System (“gps”) Independent Navigation System for a Self-guided Aerial Vehicle Utilizing Multiple Optical Sensors. Enhanced drone autonomy without GPS.","keywords":["GPS independent navigation","self-guided aerial vehicle","optical sensors","drone autonomy","aerial robotics","unmanned aerial systems","navigation systems","visual odometry","patent US-9852645","drone technology","autonomous flight","computer vision","SLAM","resilient navigation","UAV"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852645","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852645","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Global positioning system (“GPS”) independent navigation system for a self-guided aerial vehicle utilizing multiple optical sensors\" (US-9852645). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852645","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852645","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9852645","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-06-06T09:15:11.953Z"}