- While AI-driven drones face jamming issues, a Brooklyn engineer has developed a workaround.
- Brian Streem, CEO of Vermeer, has created a navigation system that enhances drone capabilities.
- His technology is already being utilized in Ukraine, which is part of a larger initiative for military funding.
The ongoing conflict between Iran and Ukraine has led to massive investments in autonomous drones featuring AI, seen by many as a transformative aspect of warfare.
Despite these advancements, both manned and unmanned drones are highly susceptible to jamming and spoofing, which could result in the loss of costly technologies.
Take the long-range Shahed attack drone, for instance—it’s designed for extensive missions and carries significant payloads. Yet, often it relies on outdated GPS and camera systems that can be unreliable.
But a Brooklyn engineer aims to change this. “We provide the underlying technology,” Brian Streem noted. “Without our products, AI warfare won’t be effective.”
He’s working on smarter cameras equipped with onboard navigation systems. Notably, he introduced the Visual Positioning System (VPS), which utilizes electro-optical or infrared cameras connected to an NVIDIA Edge computer.
The VPS allows for real-time terrain analysis, celestial navigation, and precise guidance using preloaded maps. The company plans to incorporate evasive maneuvers into the system to counteract threats from enemy weapons.
Currently, this technology is in use in Ukraine, and Streem believes that modernizing U.S. drones with the VPS could significantly cut military expenses.
Although the technology is costly—around $20,000 per drone—it’s expected to pay for itself in the long run.
“The camera actively monitors the environment, allowing the drone to seemingly make decisions in real-time,” Streem elaborated.
