New hybrid positioning system promises reliable tracking where GPS fails
Researchers have developed a hybrid positioning system called Joint DAS and GNSS (JDG) that combines satellite GPS with fiber-optic vibration sensing. This technology allows for accurate tracking in urban or indoor environments where traditional GPS signals are often blocked or unreliable.
Why it matters
Improving location accuracy in dense urban environments has major implications for autonomous navigation, emergency response, and smart city infrastructure.
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Add as preferred source Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain In a new study presented at the IEEE International Conference on Communications in Glasgow, researchers from Queen Mary University of London and partners from around the world showcased the system, called Joint DAS and GNSS (JDG), which blends traditional satellite-based GPS with a lesser-known technology referred to as Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS).
DAS uses existing fiber-optic cables —already buried beneath roads and sidewalks—as ultra-sensitive vibration sensors. When someone moves nearby, the fibers detect tiny shifts that can be translated into movement patterns.
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