Julien Deswaef

Aweigh is an open source navigation system that does not rely on satellites: it is inspired by the mapping of celestial bodies and the polarized vision of insects.
https://www.aweigh.io/

/cc: @neauoire @rek
#solarpunk

aweigh – When Performance Matters

decentralize × distribute × reposition A navigation technology that does not rely on satellites. Aweigh is an open navigation system

aweigh
Apr 27, 2019 at 11:17pmWeb
Show threadDevine Lu LinvegaApr 27, 2019
@xuv @rek wow 0__0
Show threadSolarpunk StationApr 28, 2019

This is one of the coolest projects I've seen in awhile. Think this is going to be moving toward the top of my "To Build" list.

@xj9 @socalledunitedstates @Zuph @DJWalnut @solarbear @xuv

Show threadPops has moved instances!!!Apr 28, 2019
@solarpunkgnome Wow, that's a lot of anarchist signalling in one shot @ 1:56 of the video
Show threadMatthew SkalaApr 28, 2019
@xuv @neauoire @rek Does it really work, or is it another of these "design concepts"? I've seen several from the Royal College of Art before that turned out to depend on non-existent hypothetical technology.
Show threadJulien DeswaefApr 28, 2019
@mattskala @neauoire @rek That's a very good question. I did not take this into account. I guess one of us will have to try.
Show threadMatthew SkalaApr 28, 2019
@xuv @neauoire @rek One reason I'm doubtful is that if this worked to the kind of accuracy that's implied, then the military would already be using it; and they don't seem to be.
Show threadShekhinahApr 30, 2019

@mattskala @xuv @neauoire @rek The SR-71 used to have navigation based on well-known stars, but the aweigh home page only says that it measures the sun's position. So that would be "celestial body" not "celestial bodies".

It also needs a real-time clock. I'm not sure if the SR-71's star tracker had that problem.

Show threadMatthew SkalaApr 30, 2019
@CharredStencil @xuv @neauoire @rek A lot depends on the precision. If you need real time to one second, okay, no big deal although setting your clock accurately without using a reference that ultimately comes from GPS will be interesting. If you need microseconds, not so easy. Similarly, measuring the position of a star (including the Sun) to one degree is a lot easier than to one second of arc.
Show threadMatthew SkalaApr 30, 2019
@CharredStencil @xuv @neauoire @rek Traditional celestial navigation (with a sextant and so on) can do star positions to one second of arc, which is what you need to even approach GPS, but only with expensive precision optics and a trained user. For doing it automatically, optical encoders good to that precision are *to this day* on the export-restricted-because-of-military-applications list, at least from Canada.
Show thread    n8   Doesn't follow you 🇺🇦Apr 28, 2019
@xuv @neauoire @rek So ... it only works in daylight? Without clouds?
Show threadJulien DeswaefApr 28, 2019
@n8 @neauoire @rek It says it works with clouds. But I think daylight is necessary.
Show thread    n8   Doesn't follow you 🇺🇦Apr 28, 2019
@xuv @neauoire @rek Personally, I'm keeping more of an eye on this stuff: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_pulsar-based_navigation
X-ray pulsar-based navigation - Wikipedia

Show thread    n8   Doesn't follow you 🇺🇦Apr 28, 2019
@xuv @neauoire @rek Though it should be noted that GPS itself already relies on quasars for absolute positioning, so it really just comes down to which 'sars you trust more.
Show threadSylvhemApr 28, 2019
@xuv I'm not sure to understand how does this work in practice.