Boeing working to provide tracking abilities sans GPS signals
No sooner than the Joint Forces Command announces an initiative to utilize hybrid GPS technology to get geo-tracking information to soldiers whilst inside buildings or otherwise obstructed from GPS range, DARPA has went and hired Boeing to do almost the same thing. The Robust Surface Navigation (RSN) program seeks to "exploit signals of opportunity to deliver precise location information to the US warfighter in GPS-denied environments," which could theoretically overcome any GPS jamming techniques that our enemies may try. Essentially, Boeing is looking to companies such as ROSUM to figure out how to provide tracking data via terrestrial broadcast signals and augmented broadcast signals instead of GPS. The 15-month Phase 1 concept development contract is just getting underway, and while no commercial plans have been cooked up just yet, we can't imagine this staying out of civilian hands for too awfully long.[Via Gizmag]
Filed under: GPS
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Todd @ Apr 19th 2007 5:30PM
Reminds me of that near-field locater thingy they had in Aliens...
Hudson: This signal's weird...must be some interference or something. There's movement all over the place...
Hudson: Nine meters. Eight...!
Ripley: Can't be. That's inside the room!
Hudson: It's readin' right. Look!
Hicks: Well you're not reading it right!
Spencer @ Apr 19th 2007 6:11PM
Sorry for being a grammar pedant, but "DARPA has went and hired..." should really be either "DARPA went and hired..." or "DARPA has gone and hired..."
whiskey @ Apr 20th 2007 11:52AM
Triangulation of a signal a la Jack Bauer... Cool!!!
titus.jon @ Apr 21st 2007 12:33PM
This is a good idea, as it allows radio towers that you find all over the place in cities to be able to help you find your position. The main flaw of GPS is that the signals cannot be found in cities, where the tall buildings block the signals. If the signals can be delivered from within the cities themselves, then you would be able to know where you are without having to use GPS.