Visual Celestial Navigation via Star Set Fingerprinting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation systems, such as GPS, are vulnerable to technical issues like battery failure, signal loss, and cyber-attacks, which can prevent vehicles from determining their geographical position, necessitating an alternative method for precise location determination.
Innovation Solution
A Visual Celestial Navigation System that captures and processes celestial information from stars to generate a star set fingerprint, allowing vehicles to determine their position by comparing this fingerprint with reference celestial information stored in a database, using a tile-based data structure and equatorial coordinate system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If satellite navigation systems (GPS, GLONASS, GNSS) are used to determine vehicle position, then geographical coordinates can be computed, but the system becomes vulnerable to battery failure, signal loss, and cyber-attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces celestial bodies (stars) as an intermediary reference system for position determination. Instead of relying directly on satellite signals that can be compromised, the system uses the immutable positions of stars in the sky as a中介 reference frame. The imaging apparatus captures star positions, and these are processed to determine vehicle location, thereby mediating between the vehicle and the navigation function to eliminate vulnerability to satellite-based cyber-attacks and signal interference
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the fundamental parameter used for navigation from satellite signal coordinates to celestial reference frame coordinates. By transitioning from electromagnetic signal-based positioning (GPS) to optical astronomy-based positioning (star catalogs), the system alters the physical domain and measurement parameters, making the navigation function independent of satellite infrastructure and its associated vulnerabilities
2Ease of operation
If GPS spoofing techniques are used to compromise geo trackers, then drones or vehicles can be re-routed to particular locations, but this creates security vulnerabilities in navigation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the vulnerability to GPS spoofing attacks into an opportunity by implementing a dual-system architecture. The celestial navigation system serves as a verification layer that can detect spoofing attempts by comparing expected satellite positions (derived from celestial mechanics) against actual GPS signals. When discrepancies are detected, the system can reject spoofed signals, thereby converting the potential harm of spoofing into a detectable anomaly that triggers security protocols
3Reliability
If traditional satellite navigation systems are replaced with celestial navigation, then vulnerability to cyber-attacks is reduced, but the system complexity increases due to imaging apparatus and star catalog processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional navigation system where the imaging apparatus serves multiple purposes: it captures images for celestial navigation, processes star positions for position determination, and simultaneously verifies satellite signal authenticity by comparing observed celestial positions with catalog data. This universal approach consolidates multiple functions into a single integrated system, reducing overall complexity despite the advanced capabilities required
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates self-verification capabilities where the celestial reference data serves as an independent check on the navigation function itself. The star catalog positions provide a self-contained reference framework that does not require external validation, allowing the system to self-correct and self-verify its position calculations, thereby reducing the need for complex external validation systems
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 vehicles to accurately determine their position even when traditional satellite navigation systems fail, providing a robust and scalable solution for autonomous vehicle localization and mitigating issues like GPS spoofing, jamming, and cyber-attacks.
Implementation Method 1
capturing, using at least one imaging apparatus, celestial information of a portion of the sky, the celestial information being indicative of at least one star parameter of a plurality of stars in the portion of sky
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for determining the position of a device or vehicle by using celestial information captured by an imaging apparatus. The systems and methods identify a star set in the celestial information, generate a star set fingerprint and compare the star set fingerprint with reference celestial information. Once a comparison is made, the location of the device or vehicle can be determined and used within a celestial navigation system.