Roke Manor Research has developed, for the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, integrated sensor technology designed to help troops navigate without reliance on GPS, detect threats and share information with other military personnel.

When GPS signal is lost, commanders lose their ability to monitor troops’ location, and wider situational awareness is withdrawn from those on the ground. The urban environment poses the greatest challenge: signal is often lost upon entering buildings where there is no clear line of sight with GPS satellites or if the signal is being jammed.

Image credit: Roke Manor Research Roke's Dismounted Close Combat Sensors (DCCS) system uses inertial and visual navigation sensors combined with algorithms to provide 3D navigational data when GPS signal is not available. Taking the last known GPS location, DCCS combines information from visually tracked features captured by a helmet camera and inertial sensors to calculate an individual's location, allowing wearers to be tracked inside buildings and tunnels.

GPS, inertial and magnetic sensors on a soldier's personal weapon track where it is pointing—potentially helping prevent "blue on blue" incidents, in which friendly forces are mistaken for the enemy. Additional weapon-mounted camera, laser and orientation sensors allow soldiers to highlight targets to other military personnel, as well as manned and unmanned aircraft.

In addition to its military uses, Roke says the technology has potential civilian applications—such as aiding emergency services personnel in navigating smoke-filled buildings and providing a 3D reconstruction of car accidents.