Precise positioning is critical for AI agents and robots to move, coordinate and execute tasks autonomously in the real world. This level of precision is not met by our current positioning systems. GPS systems are vulnerable to outages, manipulation and have insufficient accuracy for embodied AI and robots, particularly in dense urban environments were accurate positioning in 3D space is essential.
GPS revolutionized positioning and has served our purposes very well until now. However, GPS has limitations that make it unsuitable in certain environments and for certain applications. GPS is centralized, susceptible to interference and requires line-of-sight. To mitigate this GPS is often augmented with other satellite navigation systems such as GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou, as well as alternative positioning technologies such as terrestrial-based positioning, cellular network positioning and Wi-Fi based location services. However most of these have limitations and are not always available.
Decentralized positioning systems (DPS) offer an alternative that promises to enhance accuracy, latency, privacy and resilience through distributed systems and incentive-driven deployment. Not relying on deploying satellites, the network can be scaled up more effectively through deploying additional nodes, with every node or device independently contributing to the network’s capabilities.
In the dense smart cities of the future, populated by robots and AI agents, decentralized local positioning will be essential, ensuring continuous, accurate positioning.
Improved Accuracy
Nodes in a DPS can include local data sources, giving access to low latency positioning as well as improved elevation data for 3D environments. Real-time data from various sources can be integrated for more accurate and dynamic positioning.
Increased Scalability
The nature of Decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) means that the network scales in line with user adoption, as every participant contributes to the network. Every added node also increases the networks capabilities.
Resilient Networks
The decentralized architecture ensures that no single node or satellite outage compromises the entire system. Multiple nodes ensure the system can dynamically adapt to changing environmental or operational conditions.
Enhanced Privacy
DPSs eliminate the need for a central authority managing data, reducing the risk of surveillance or misuse of personal location information. Users have more control over their data, ensuring that location data is shared only with authorized parties.
Secure Positioning
Leveraging blockchain or distributed ledger technology, decentralized positioning systems are less susceptible to tampering or single-point-of-failure attacks. With multiple nodes verifying location data, it becomes harder for attackers to spoof signals or provide false positioning information.
Cost-efficient Collaboration
DePINs allow for crowdsourced infrastructure running on devices owned by individuals or communities, reducing the need for costly centralized infrastructure. This approach encourages interoperability and makes positioning accessible to regions with limited resources to deploy centralized GPS alternatives.
Usecases
Smart cities
DPSs ensure that machines in autonomous systems such as drones, self-driving cars, and robots have reliable and secure 3D positioning data that is accurate even in dense urban environments.
Navigation and Mapping
Enables property owners such as local governments and public transport systems to make accurate navigation possible in indoor environments where line-of-sight alternatives such as GPS fails.
Disaster Response
DPSs can provide robust positioning in scenarios where centralized systems are disrupted during natural disasters or warfare.
Partners
Learn how our partners are addressing the pillars of the Intercognitive Foundation.
