The GI-Eye system is a software platform that integrates GPS, inertial, and digital camera data. It is designed for collecting high-resolution imagery to be used for precise visual navigation or accurate geolocation of target coordinates. The GI-Eye takes advantage of differential or kinematic GPS positioning to provide the precise location of each camera image, and uses NAVSYS’ proprietary InterNav™ kinematic alignment algorithm to measure the precise attitude of the camera using the inertial sensor data. By recording the precise location and attitude of the video images, the extraction of feature location data is simplified and streamlined. This results in more efficient and rapid data processing—reducing the time required to generate high accuracy target or feature coordinates, and in some cases eliminating the need for expensive and time consuming tie-point processing. The high-resolution imagery provides mensurated target coordinates and near real-time composite mosaic imagery suitable for viewing on the observer's base station laptop. In addition, a precision digital elevation model can be extracted from the collected imagery.

The system can receive and process both range and carrier-phase differential corrections in real-time from Wide Area Differential GPS services or from a ground reference station using a standard RTCM serial interface. A wireless data link between the GPS/INS/Camera unit and the base station can be included in the GI-Eye system.

Embeds easily into existing or sourced sensors
Because the GI-Eye system is a software platform, it can be embedded to run on existing processor platforms and utilize data from existing GPS, inertial and visual sensors, reducing size and weight for your application. NAVSYS can also provide numerous sensors to meet the performance requirements of your application. Because of its modular design, it enables sensor upgrades over time with only software configuration changes.

Available for aerial, marine, and terrestrial applications
Applications of the GI-Eye system include generation of target coordinates from airborne or ground vehicles, autonomous georegistration of video (or other sensor) data for archival and to speed data processing, visual-aided navigation, mapping and feature geolocation, and GIS attribute data collection. Targeting systems have been developed for both commercial and government applications, including the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and Office of Naval Research.

The NAVSYS GI-Eye technology has been integrated into FLIR Systems’ Star SAFIRE airborne electro-optic imaging system. GI-Eye provides the geopointing capability within Star SAFIRE that allows the image to be stabilized on a particular coordinate. The improved stabilization allows the Star SAFIRE product to operate with extremely narrow fields of view as seen in this demonstration video.

The GI-Eye product line has also been used in stabilized thermal, low-light, and television imaging systems designed for surveillance and reconnaissance aboard airplanes, helicopters, and UAVs. The system is employed in varied environments and customer sets for this application.

Specifications

08-11-002

Real-Time Target Geo-Location and Web-Based Situational Awareness Using Tactical UAVs.
UAS Payloads Conference, San Diego, CA, Nov. 2008 (PDF: 7.7MB)

07-10-001

Web-based Geo-Referenced Image Manager (WebGRIM): Automated correction, processing and management of aerial data.
Proceedings of PCI Geomatics Tower Club Applications Seminar, Vienna, VA, Oct. 2007 (PDF: 5MB)

07-09-003

Flight Test Results of a Video-Aided GPS_Inertial Navigation System.
Proceedings of ION GNSS 2007, Ft. Worth, TX, Sept. 2007 (PDF: 275k)

06-06-001

Near Real-Time Dissemination of Geo-Referenced Imagery by an Enterprise Server.
Proceedings of 2006 GeoTec, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 2006 (PDF: 1.6MB)

Precision Maritime Inshore Navigation with a Tightly-Coupled Sensor System.
Proceedings of ION GNSS 2004, Long Beach, CA, Sept. 2004 (PDF: 371 KB)

04-09-001

Performance Test Results on an Integrated GPS/MEMS Inertial Navigation Package.
Proceedings of ION GNSS 2004, Long Beach, CA, Sept. 2004 (PDF: 305 KB)

02-09-002

Precision Kinematic Alignment Using a Low-Cost GPS/INS System.
Proceedings of ION GPS 2002, Portland, Sept. 2002 (PDF: 307 KB)

02-06-001

Video Updates during GPS Dropouts using Navigation and Electro/Optic Sensor Integration Technology.
Proceedings of the 58th Annual ION Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, 24-26 June 2002 (PDF: 314 KB)

02-05-001

Inertial Navigation Electro-Optical Aiding During GPS Dropouts.
Proceedings of the Joint Navigation Conference 2002, Orlando, FL, May 2002 (PDF: 444 KB)

02-01-002

High Accuracy Autonomous Image Georeferencing Using a GPS/Inertial-Aided Digital Imaging System.
Proceedings of ION National Technical Meeting 2002, San Diego, CA, Jan. 2002 (PDF: 907 KB)

99-06-003

Precision Targeting Using GPS/Inertial-Aided Sensors.
ION 55th Annual Meeting, Cambridge, MA, June 1999 (PDF: 613 KB)