SPOT: Single-Platform Object Triangulation for Air Domain Awareness

ARMD requires detecting/locating non-cooperative UAS for Air Domain Awareness. Current solutions rely on complex, multi-sensor or multi-vehicle solutions; a single standard UAS cannot easily achieve GPS-level 3D localization using it's pre-existing hardware. Target-agnostic 3D localization from one UAS requires solving complex issues: extracting accurate gimbal bearing measurements, integrating ML with triangulation, executing real-time geometric optimization, and operating on edge compute. SPOT is a hardware-agnostic, software-first architecture. While FY27 builds a modular payload as a testbench, the ultimate goal is an algorithmic suite that runs natively on any UAS equipped with a standard gimbaled camera and GPS.

This project aims to develop near GPS-grade 3D localization from a single platform with no ground infrastructure required. The target outcomes are to integrate ARL Archangel CV ML models for aerial human detection (proof-of-concept), calibrate and optimize gimbal for azimuth/elevation bearing measurement and center tracking, build end-to-end pipeline, and validate GPS-grade accuracy of 5m on static targets.

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.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.