Came across this, not sure if already discussed, but may be of interest:
Advanced Navigation, an autonomous systems and navigation technologies provider, along with MBDA, have signed a MoU to co-develop a resilient navigation system integrating MBDA’s NILEQ absolute positioning technology. The co-developed solution will provide resilient absolute positioning for a...
im-mining.com
www.nileq.co.uk
"NILEQ will provide a patent pending alternative navigation technology that is underpinned by the use of neuromorphic sensors to derive and match terrain fingerprints."
"Satellite-based navigation is the bedrock of most modern positioning systems, but it can’t always be relied on. Two companies are now joining forces to create a GPS-free navigation system for drones by fusing neuromorphic sensing technology with an inertial navigation system (INS)."
"A pair of navigation technology companies has now teamed up to merge the approaches and get the best of both worlds. NILEQ, a subsidiary of British missile-maker MBDA based in Bristol, UK, makes a low-power visual navigation system that relies on neuromorphic cameras. This will now be integrated with a fiber optic-based INS developed by Advanced Navigation in Sydney, Australia, to create a positioning system that lets low-cost drones navigate reliably without GPS."
"On the other hand, neuromorphic cameras are not currently able to operate using infrared, says Houghton, which would enable nighttime operations. But infrared neuromorphic cameras are currently under development and should be available in the next few years, he says."
"The companies are planning to start flight trials of the combined navigation system later this year, adds Shaw, with the goal of getting the product into customers hands by the middle of 2025."