No-emit, No-drift, World-Wide GPS-Denied Autonomy for Supersonic UAV, Group 2-4 UAV & USV/UGV and Autonomous Small and Cube-Sats

The proposed solutions is a no-drift, no-emit, Alt-PNT system that deploys through a modular UAV payload to enable complete Alt-PNT GPS-Denied autonomy for supersonic UAV through the proposed effort. The solution is downward compatible to existing Group 2-4 UAV and USV & UGV, and through future enhancement, is upward compatible to enable Alt-PNT functionality and target-relative maneuver for future autonomous small and cube-sats. The solution is a set of star-tracking cameras (optical, night-time), satellite position estimation sensors (ambient EM-wave signal detection, day & night), unique sensor fusion algorithms, and NVIDIA compute that allows the UAV to compare detected stars and satellites with known celestial maps and satellite trajectory maps, and determine its absolute position, anywhere around the World, day or night. The solution is designed to be scalable, it is Mod Payload AD 1167779 and ASPN/pntOS compliant, so it seamlessly integrates with any Group II-IV UAV and other USSF/USAF Alt-PNT sensors and systems that meet these standards. The solution is delivered through an adaption of current USSOCOM & Air Force Alt-PNT technology. Rhoman Aerospace is delivering GPS-Denied UAV Alt-PNT, navigation and autonomy solutions to USSOCOM, Air Force, and Navy customers for Group I & II UAV – the ideal baseline technology for the proposed solution. Based on repeated feedback from multiple in-person events, we have determined the next essential component of our system to develop: Alt-PNT that works at any range, over open water, and on long-range, high-speed autonomous systems. The proposed solution enhances USSOCOM & Air Force Alt-PNT GPS-Denied navigation algorithms by adapting object-location-map and machine-vision object/‘blob’ detection algorithms to work with celestial maps, stars, and satellites.??????? The solution delivers essential capability to the most critical component of air dominance, supersonic UAV, is downward-compatible to deliver Alt-PNT to current Group II-IV UAV and autonomous surface and land vehicles, and is upward compatible to deliver (low cost) no-emit, absolute positioning and target-relative maneuver to small-sats and cube-sats. The proposed effort delivers GPS-Denied Alt-PNT solutions to address immediate USSF, USAF, and DoD need, performs flight demonstrations on a supersonic sub-scale UAV, and delivers a modular-payload hardware + software deliverable to USSF & USAF stakeholders.