[Satellite TODAY 02-25-11] The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) contracted Northrop Grumman and the University of Minnesota to co-develop a collaborative navigation system under AFRL’s Collaborative Robust Integrated Sensor Positioning program, Northrop Grumman announced Feb. 24.
    AFRL wants the collaborative navigation system to allow its aircraft to leverage information from onboard sensors and shared data from other aircraft to achieve highly accurate navigation performance in all flight conditions, especially in areas where GPS information is unavailable.
    Northrop Grumman and the University of Minnesota said they would develop algorithms to achieve the AFRL’s requirements. "Extending current methods of own-ship navigation to a collaborative environment will offer tangible benefits to the warfighter. … The collaborative navigation solution that Northrop Grumman and the University of Minnesota have developed represents state-of-the-art and innovative use of net-centric operations and layered sensing for navigation," Northrop Grumman Navigation Systems Vice President Charles Volk said in a statement.