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Geolocating a random island using geometry and CUDA programming

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Re: Geolocating a random island using geometry and CUDA programming

#43

For drones and missiles, this technique is known as Terrain Contour Matching . If terrain contour are measured optically, navigation is independent of RF jamming, unlike GNSS. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TERCOM

It’s an effective a surprisingly old technique, being used on cruise missiles as early as the 1960s. It actually precedes GPS and satellite navigation by several decades. Im continuously blown away by what engineers were able to do in that era with such limited computing power. Take a look at SAGE, for example.

Fun fact: the usage of TERCOM in the tomahawk missile actually limited its ability to be used in Operation Desert Storm. Routes had to be planned to go around actual topographical features, instead of hundreds of miles of flat desert.

Re: Geolocating a random island using geometry and CUDA programming

#49
Super fun! Interestingly, this is how JPL was able to significantly reduce the Mars 2020 landing radius on Mars. Cameras onboard take pictures of the terrain and match that to maps to figure out where the lander is. https://www-robotics.jpl.nasa.gov/what-we-do/flight-projects...
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