Velocity-Vector Tracking With Doppler LIDAR in GPS-Denied Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing navigation systems, such as GPS, are unreliable in GPS-denied environments due to jamming, spoofing, or geographical constraints, leading to inaccurate position, orientation, and velocity measurements, which are susceptible to systematic errors and interference.

Innovation Solution

A self-contained navigation system using Doppler LIDAR sensors, a clock, and heading sensors to measure vehicle velocity and range relative to a reference frame, combined with a coherent receiver for high signal-to-noise ratio measurements, enabling accurate navigation without external signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If GPS is used for navigation, then position and velocity information can be obtained, but the system becomes unreliable in GPS-denied environments due to jamming, spoofing, or geographical constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation reliabilityVSAvoidjamming and spoofing susceptibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the navigation function from external GPS dependency and implements it using onboard sensors (Doppler LIDAR, inertial measurement units, odometry) that operate independently of external signals, thereby eliminating susceptibility to GPS jamming and spoofing while maintaining navigation reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces Doppler LIDAR as an intermediary measurement tool that directly measures velocity vectors relative to the ground or environment, providing an independent verification path that does not rely on GPS satellite signals and is therefore immune to electromagnetic interference and spoofing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If inertial navigation is used to track position, then navigation can continue without external signals, but systematic errors accumulate over time leading to drift

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation continuityVSAvoidposition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by using Doppler LIDAR to continuously measure velocity vectors and compare them with inertial navigation system predictions, detecting and correcting drift errors in real-time to maintain long-term position accuracy without external signals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the purely mechanical integration process of inertial navigation with an optical measurement system (Doppler LIDAR) that directly measures velocity, eliminating the cumulative integration errors that cause drift in traditional inertial systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If multiple sensors are combined for navigation, then accuracy can be improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevelocity measurement accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges Doppler LIDAR velocity measurements with inertial navigation and odometry data into a unified navigation solution, where the LIDAR velocity vectors serve as a common reference that simplifies the integration of multiple sensor types while improving overall measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Measurement precision

If Doppler LIDAR is used to measure velocity directly, then systematic errors are reduced, but the system requires sophisticated signal processing to achieve high signal-to-noise ratio

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevelocity measurement precisionVSAvoidsignal processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary signal processing techniques such as coherent detection and integration to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio before final velocity calculation, ensuring accurate measurements while managing processing complexity through optimized algorithms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Provides accurate, long-term navigation with low systematic errors, allowing vehicles to operate autonomously and safely in GPS-denied environments by measuring speed directly and avoiding clutter and interference.

Implementation Method 1

A self-contained navigation system using Doppler LIDAR sensors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDoppler effect: Doppler Effect

Implementation Method 2

measure vehicle velocity and range relative to a reference frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS20260023162A1Systems and methods for location tracking based on velocity vectors

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 PSIONIC INC

AI summary

Methods and apparatus for providing self-contained guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) functions for a vehicle moving through an environment on or near the ground, in the air or in space without externally provided information are disclosed. More particularly, one embodiment of the present invention includes a Heading Sensor (36), an Absolute Location Sensor (38), a timer (40), a Range Doppler Processor (42), a Navigation Reference Sensor (44), an Area Range and a Velocity Sensor (46) which provide enhanced navigation information about a universal reference frame (22) and one or more targets (20).