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Completed TRL 7 (started at 4, targeting 7)
Intuitive Machines refers to this activity as the ThinVPU project. The objective of the ThinVPU project was to create an open-source vision processing resource of algorithms, code, and validation results ready for use in space applications including Precision Landing and Hazard Avoidance; Orbit Determination; Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking; and Surface Mobility. The intent of the project was to expand the software code base, image processing capabilities, test cases, and processor configurations for free use toto optical navigation system developers. This project completed in February 2021. The ThinVPU repository is located at https://gitlab.com/intuitivemachines/thinvputhinvpu.
Will provide a verification platform for vision processing algorithms and software as well as a database of synthetic imagery for 3 different scenarios - precision landing and hazard avoidance on the Moon, small body optical navigation, autonomous surface mobility. This work will also define a general software architecture to handle these different navigation environments.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
This is a mature technology (TRL 7) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.
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