Family of GUMPS

By University Research Foundation

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Overview

The Family of GUMPS represents a suite of ultrawideband, multistatic positioning systems built on the same foundational GUMPS technology. Each variant is designed to deliver centimeter-level relative positioning—often with latency under 100 microseconds—and is adaptable across air, land, sea, and urban environments. With synchronized, nanosecond-pulse architectures, the Family of GUMPS enables reliable navigation, recovery, routing, and delivery operations, even in GPS-denied or visually degraded conditions.

These systems can be configured to provide both relative position and relative attitude between fixed node arrays and mobile platforms. Whether supporting UAM aircraft, naval recovery missions, ground logistics, or automated cargo operations, the Family of GUMPS delivers high-rate, high-integrity spatial awareness essential for modern operations.

Why the Family of GUMPS Matters

Many modern missions occur in environments where GPS cannot be trusted—A2/AD regions, urban canyons, degraded visual environments, heavy sea states, or locations with intentional jamming. The Family of GUMPS provides an alternative positioning architecture capable of supporting VTOL recoveries, urban operations, automated cargo alignment, air-to-air refueling, ground coordination, and more. With update rates in the hundreds of measurements per second and extremely low latency, these systems offer the precision needed for both autonomous and human-operated platforms.

Key advantages include:

  • Reliable relative positioning in GPS-denied or degraded environments

  • Support for manned, unmanned, and autonomous systems

  • Operation across air, sea, and ground domains

  • High update rates and ultra-low latency

  • Capability to provide relative attitude with multiple node configurations

Subsystems in the Family of GUMPS

Below are the core members of the Family of GUMPS, each optimized for a specific operational need.

SUMPS – Ship-based Ultrawideband Multistatic Positioning System

SUMPS enables highly precise shipboard recovery by providing centimeter-level relative position data between deck-mounted nodes, helicopter-mounted nodes, and any externally carried cargo.

The synchronized nanosecond pulse architecture allows SUMPS to:

  • Determine the precise position of the helicopter relative to the deck
  • Track cargo relative to both the deck and the aircraft
  • Provide relative attitude data when multiple nodes are installed
  • Enhance accuracy when integrated with IMU data (optional)

SUMPS is intended for operations in heavy sea states, degraded visibility, and complex maritime recovery environments.

PALS – Precision Aircraft Landing System

PALS provides precision VTOL recovery and approach guidance for low-visibility or GPS-denied conditions. Nodes placed around a landing zone and on the aircraft generate centimeter-level relative position and attitude data that enable safe recoveries, including on inclined surfaces. Expeditionary use requires only a single ground node delivered by the aircraft, while fixed sites can use multiple nodes for even greater precision. IMU integration is optional but enhances situational awareness.

PEARLS – Precision Enroute Aircraft Routing and Location System

PEARLS extends GUMPS technology into urban and wide-area routing. Fixed nodes distributed throughout a city or operational region provide aircraft with high-precision relative position data, enabling safe, structured separation and navigation even when GPS is degraded by urban interference or denied entirely. Nodes can function as transmitters, receivers, or transceivers, allowing flexible deployment in complex environments.

GAPL – Ground Asset Position Location

GAPL is designed for ground vehicles, fixed ground assets, and personnel. Using surveyed fixed nodes, GAPL provides centimeter-accurate time-of-arrival referencing and supports:

  • Vehicle path guidance
  • Personnel safety alerts
  • Supervisor coordination
  • Fine-grain tracking in complex or GPS-denied terrain
  • Mesh data exchange between users

It enables precise ground operations, safety oversight, and route coordination in mission settings.

ARA – Aerial Refueling Automation

ARA supports automated or assisted aerial refueling by determining the exact relative position between a delivery aircraft, a receiving aircraft, and the refueling basket. The system provides centimeter-level accuracy, allowing:

  • Precise alignment of receiver aircraft
  • Real-time tracking of basket position
  • Compensation for the offset between the aircraft-mounted node and the probe tip

This system supports safer and more reliable refueling operations in both human-piloted and autonomous contexts.

PD-GUMPS – Package Delivery GUMPS

PD-GUMPS enables automated, high-precision package delivery by providing centimeter-level positioning to UAV autopilots. A small “key-fob” node placed at the delivery point transmits signals to guide the UAV’s final approach. A secondary node on the tether or cargo-end ensures accurate alignment during the descent. The key fob remains with the end user, enabling repeatable, user-specific delivery accuracy without heavy infrastructure.

FW-GUMPS – Fixed Wing GUMPS

FW-GUMPS adapts GUMPS technology to fixed-wing aircraft by providing precise relative positioning via an under-aircraft node. This enables instrument-approach-level guidance—similar to ILS—for fixed-wing aircraft operating in GPS-impaired or GPS-denied airspace, enhancing landing safety and repeatability.

ADRP – Airborne Drone Recovery Positioning

ADRP supports automated recovery of airborne drones through centimeter-level positioning that guides the aircraft into recovery systems such as:

  • Precise alignment of receiver aircraft
  • Real-time tracking of basket position
  • Compensation for the offset between the aircraft-mounted node and the probe tip

This enables reliable drone recovery in dynamic or constrained environments.

SSP – Satellite / Swarm Positioning

SSP brings GUMPS precision to space operations. Using synchronized nanosecond pulses, satellites or small spacecraft can maintain relative position and orientation within a formation. This supports:

  • Self-orienting satellite swarms
  • Formatting reconfiguration
  • Rendezvous operations
  • High-precision close-proximity flight

DOCTOR – Drone Optically Controlled Terminal Operations Remote

DOCTOR is designed to support point-of-delivery drone operations for contested or GPS-denied environments. It enables package-carrying UAS to deliver items directly to the correct warfighter or end user with minimal RF emissions and no reliance on GPS. DOCTOR provides precise terminal control to ensure accurate, reliable delivery even in complex operational settings.