Autonomous Navigation in GNSS-Denied Environments

Aurora proposes to develop a vision-based subsystem for incorporation onto Mars vehicles in the air (VTOL) and on the ground. NOAMAD will be an embedded hardware device with associated firmware for payloadlimited UAVs, performing autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance, guidance using bio-inspired methods, and communication of information between agents within the autonomous team. NOAMAD will transition University of Maryland methods for insect-inspired, lightweight, vision- and optical sensor-based navigation methods into a subsystem that enables expansion of the exploratory capability of the vehicles on which it is installed. The subsystem will provide (1) localization (without a global navigation system or compass) using optic-flow based odometry combined with landmark detection, (2) obstacle detection and avoidance using optic flow, and (3) autonomous guidance using position information together with bio-inspired behaviors. Taken together, these functions will allow air and ground vehicles to work together to achieve progressively refined maps of an exploration region.

The primary NASA application is Return to Mars. Other applications include ground rovers for moon exploration, satellite mapping for inspection, and terrestrial applications in GPS-denied navigation and camerabased see-and-avoid using optic flow.

Aurora is developing bio-inspired embedded device to improve the performance of vehicles operating in urban environments, where (GPS-based) global or inertial navigation is less important than navigation with respect to ones surroundings (buildings ,trees, and other clutter). NOAMAD will advance Aurora's devices from obstacle avoidance and short-duration guidance through cluttered terrain to goal-directed, long term behaviors that enable missions such as search and rescue and urban VTOL for law enforcement and medical evacuation. Bioinspired methods could also impact toxic cloud tracking by UAVs and border patrol search.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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