SSCI to Develop Navigation Sensor Technology for US Air Force

Scientific Systems Company Incorporated (SSCI) will develop an open source software framework for testing and evaluating navigation sensors and algorithms for the US Air Force.

The technology will meet the air force's requirement for new precision navigation technologies to augment global positioning system (GPS) technology through visual odometry.

The framework will enable system integrators to explore the trading of unmanned vehicles and sensors to achieve a desired level of position and orientation accuracy over various missions.

Under the small business investment research (SBIR) contract, SSCI will test and assess multiple combinations of sensor hardware, visual navigation algorithms and vehicle dynamic models on a level playing field.

The University of Central Florida Computer Vision Laboratory will also provide several egomotion algorithms during initial testing.

The technology will be an integral part of the air force's unmanned aerial vehicles programme, said the government programme manager.