Sub-Surface Navigation (SSN)

Program Manager: Dr. Stefanie Tompkins

The Sub-Surface Navigation (SSN) program will focus on the difficulties of geo-location and navigation underground in tunnels, caves, and underground facilities. The SSN program will develop the procedures and technologies for geo-location of stationary assets and navigation of mobile platforms via exploitation of signals of opportunity (SoOP) and/or specialized signals from satellite, airborne, and terrestrial assets. The use of widely available, powerful, and economically important (and thus dependable) signals of opportunity will provide a robust SSN capability. Signals of opportunity are expected be augmented when necessary by purpose-deployed signal-emitting beacons. SSN will use the strength and diversity of these opportunistic and intentional signals to provide coverage for users who are inside underground facilities, tunnels, or caves.