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Session E9: PNT for Autonomous Systems

Pathfinder: The Future of Autonomous Navigation
Kanwar Singh, Sachin Shah, Stephan Koehler, Skyline Nav AI; Michael Switzer, Simon Khan, Chase Eskridge, US Air Force
Location: Ballroom B
Date/Time: Wednesday, Jun. 3, 8:55 a.m.

As military and civilian aviation operations increasingly face GPS-denied and contested environments due to jamming, spoofing, and signal obstruction, robust alternative positioning, navigation, and timing solutions have become critical. This presentation introduces Pathfinder Edge, a plug-and-play hardware solution that enables GPS-independent navigation for unmanned aerial vehicles and manned aircraft using onboard cameras and inertial measurement units.

The primary objective is to demonstrate a field-deployable system providing continuous absolute positioning for aerial platforms without reliance on GPS, cellular, or Wi-Fi connectivity. Pathfinder Edge delivers sub-meter accuracy positioning in real-time across diverse terrain types and environmental conditions, addressing the urgent need for assured PNT in contested operational environments with minimal integration requirements.

Pathfinder Edge leverages proprietary computer vision technology to match real-time camera imagery against precomputed satellite-derived terrain databases. The system performs pixel-by-pixel analysis of incoming video frames to detect terrain features, correlating them with preprocessed global satellite datasets to determine absolute latitude and longitude coordinates with every frame. Unlike traditional visual-inertial odometry that accumulates drift, Pathfinder Edge provides absolute positioning continuously.

The system employs intelligent sensor fusion, dynamically incorporating IMU data when visual features are sparse. A confidence metric evaluates visual matching quality and automatically adjusts reliance on inertial versus vision-based positioning. The self-contained hardware interfaces directly with existing autopilot systems through standard protocols, requiring no aircraft firmware modifications.

Field testing and operational deployments with clients and partners have demonstrated positioning accuracy within one meter across urban, mountainous, desert, and forested environments. The system maintains performance in all weather and lighting conditions while supporting real-time processing on size, weight, and power-constrained platforms. Integration timelines are measured in hours rather than months.

Pathfinder Edge provides practical GPS-independence for modern aviation operations, enhancing mission resilience and reducing vulnerability to adversary electronic warfare. The plug-and-play architecture enables rapid fielding without lengthy integration programs, addressing critical needs across military operations, urban air mobility, and autonomous delivery systems.

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