Maxar launches new software for GPS resilience

Maxar Intelligence has introduced Raptor, a groundbreaking software suite that empowers autonomous drones to navigate and pinpoint precise ground coordinates even without GPS. This innovative technology revolutionizes the resilience and dependability of unmanned systems, paving the way for extensive autonomy in military, humanitarian, and commercial operations worldwide.

Designed to seamlessly integrate with any autonomous platform without the need for extra hardware, Raptor products utilize only the drone’s built-in camera and Maxar’s vast 3D terrain data spanning over 90 million square kilometers. This enables the platform to navigate with exceptional accuracy and extract precise ground coordinates in real-time, even in GPS-denied environments. Additionally, Raptor is capable of operating in low-visibility terrains and during nighttime missions.

“By eliminating the dependence on GPS, Raptor software unleashes the full potential of autonomous systems — from facilitating joint multi-domain operations in a digital battlefield to enabling large-scale delivery systems in urban settings where precise coordinates are crucial for success,” stated Peter Wilczynski, Chief Product Officer at Maxar Intelligence. “Raptor is set to revolutionize operations for clients in defense and commercial sectors by leveraging Maxar’s unparalleled 3D global terrain data to ensure autonomous systems accomplish their missions despite GPS disruptions.”

The Raptor software suite comprises various components, including Raptor Guide, a vision-based positioning tool that can be directly installed on any autonomous platform. This software empowers the platform to determine its aerial position with an absolute accuracy of less than 10 meters RMSE. Another key component is Raptor Sync software, which synchronizes the full motion video feed from the drone’s camera with Maxar’s 3D terrain data in real-time, enabling intelligence fusion, multi-domain interoperability, and precise ground coordinate extraction with an absolute accuracy of under 3 meters.

Furthermore, Raptor Ace software, which runs on standard laptop equipment in conjunction with drone controllers, allows operators to extract real-time ground coordinates of targets from aerial video feeds, achieving an absolute accuracy of under 3 meters. By anchoring sensor data against a common geospatial foundation and working seamlessly with existing drone cameras, Raptor software facilitates collaboration among different unmanned systems for joint operations, irrespective of the software or hardware platform being used.

Unlike alternative navigation solutions that often require additional hardware, Raptor software products can be deployed on off-the-shelf equipment with minimal integration efforts. Traditional navigation options typically demand extra hardware and a dedicated downward-facing camera, leading to increased payload weight and power consumption. In contrast, Raptor software maximizes the capabilities of the drone’s existing optics, including forward and side-looking cameras, and can be easily implemented on standard hardware without any additional prerequisites.