Alternative Navigation System for Hypersonic Vehicles in Global Positioning System (GPS)-Degraded and GPS-Denied Environment
ID: N242-075Type: BOTH
Overview

Topic

Alternative Navigation System for Hypersonic Vehicles in Global Positioning System (GPS)-Degraded and GPS-Denied Environment

Agency

Department of DefenseN/A

Program

Type: SBIRPhase: BOTHYear: 2024
Timeline
  1. 1
    Release Apr 17, 2024 12:00 AM
  2. 2
    Open May 15, 2024 12:00 AM
  3. 3
    Next Submission Due Jun 12, 2024 12:00 AM
  4. 4
    Close Jun 12, 2024 12:00 AM
Description

The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for an alternative navigation system for hypersonic vehicles in GPS-degraded and GPS-denied environments. The current reliance on GPS for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems is hindered by the plasma sheath that envelops hypersonic vehicles during flight, preventing GPS signal reception. The DOD is looking for non-GPS-based technology solutions that can provide precise navigation comparable to GPS in these challenging environments. The proposed system should be compact, lightweight, and ruggedized to withstand high-velocity and high-g conditions. It should also produce accuracy for the entire flight trajectory of the vehicle, with a miss distance of less than 5m and a terminal speed of at least 1,700 m/s at the target. The system should be compatible with current and future SWaP-constrained hypersonic vehicles and maintain signals similar to GPS output codes. The project will be conducted in three phases: Phase I involves developing PNT system concept solutions and performing modeling and simulation, Phase II focuses on developing a prototype and testing its feasibility, and Phase III involves integrating the prototype onto a representative hypersonic vehicle for demonstration and evaluation. The technology has potential applications in both military and civilian fields, including long-range assault weapon launch platforms, intercontinental passenger/cargo transportation vehicles, and space transportation vehicles. The solicitation is open until June 12, 2024. For more information, visit the solicitation link.

Files
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