Subterranean Marker Guidance Using GPR for GPS-Denied Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft and ground-based vehicle navigation systems rely heavily on GPS and visual sensors, which can be degraded by weather or obstructions, leading to reduced visibility and increased construction and maintenance costs for airport infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing ground penetrating radar (GPR) sensors to detect subterranean markers embedded in the ground, enabling autonomous guidance systems to navigate without traditional surface infrastructure, which can be quickly set up and disguised for military or austere environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS and visual sensors are used for navigation, then navigation capability is provided, but performance is reduced by weather or obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ground penetrating radar (GPR) sensors as an intermediary detection mechanism that penetrates through the ground to detect subterranean markers. This mediator allows the vehicle to navigate by detecting markers beneath the surface rather than relying on visual sensors that are blocked by weather and obstructions, thus resolving the contradiction between navigation reliability and susceptibility to environmental harmful factors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the optical/visual sensing system with a radar-based electromagnetic sensing system. Instead of using visual sensors that are affected by weather conditions, the system uses GPR sensors to emit electromagnetic waves that penetrate the ground and detect subterranean markers, substituting a mechanical/optical system with one that is immune to atmospheric interference
2Ease of operation
If traditional surface infrastructure is used for navigation, then guidance is provided, but construction and maintenance costs are high and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds navigation markers within the ground surface, nesting the guidance infrastructure inside the earth rather than placing it on the surface. This allows the markers to be concealed beneath the ground while still providing navigation guidance, eliminating the need for visible surface infrastructure and reducing construction and maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates subsurface copies of traditional surface markers by placing identical or similar markers beneath the ground. These subterranean copies provide the same navigation guidance function as surface markers would, but without the need for visible surface infrastructure, thereby reducing construction time and maintenance costs while preserving ease of operation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise navigation and reduces the need for costly and time-consuming surface infrastructure, providing reliable guidance in challenging conditions and supporting military applications.
Implementation Method 1
Utilizing ground penetrating radar (GPR) sensors to detect subterranean markers embedded in the ground
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for subterranean guidance are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus to guide a vehicle includes interface circuitry communicatively coupled to a ground penetrating sensor supported by the vehicle, machine-readable instructions, and at least one processor circuit to be programmed by the machine-readable instructions to calculate, based on output from the ground penetrating sensor, a position of the vehicle relative to a subterranean marker, and guide movement of the vehicle at least partially based on the position of the vehicle relative to the subterranean marker.