The U.S. military relies heavily on GPS signals to conduct its mission-critical operations. U.S. adversaries have taken note and developed capabilities to disrupt access to the satellite signals. North Korea, for example, has blocked GPS access along its border, and Iran broadcast counterfeit signals as part of its effort to capture a U.S. drone.
Draper plans to help address threats like GPS interference, in part, by expanding its Huntsville, Alabama business operations with the intention of increasing collaboration with U.S. Army organizations. Draper has tapped Spence Guida, a retired Army colonel, to lead Army projects for the Huntsville office in order to apply Draper’s extensive research and development expertise to a broad range of Army requirements.
“Nearly all Army platforms and subsystems rely on GPS-based positioning and navigation. Our objective is to leverage Draper’s core engineering competencies in navigation, secure and assured systems, and microsystems to improve Army capabilities in the face of threats from GPS and communications jamming as well as cyber-attacks. This is just one of the many ways Draper can help the Army achieve mission success,” Guida explained. “Draper’s technical strength, combined with its experience developing rapid prototype
Draper’s engineering expertise and solutions, including chipscale atomic clock technology, can help Army soldiers and systems operate through environments where GPS signals are degraded or not available.
SOURCES – Draper, DARPA
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.