Brooklyn Engineer Seeks to Secure AI Drones From Easy Sabotage
A Brooklyn entrepreneur has developed a GPS-independent visual navigation system for military drones that uses cameras and onboard computers to resist jamming and has already been deployed in Ukraine.
Brian Streem, chief executive of Vermeer, has engineered a Visual Positioning System that enables drones to navigate independently without relying on compromised GPS signals, as New York Post reports. The innovation comes as billions flow into AI-powered drone programs amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.
Current long-range attack drones, including Shahed-style platforms costing $50,000 each, are capable of flying thousands of miles with substantial warheads to complete complex missions. However, these expensive weapons systems remain dangerously dependent on outdated GPS technology and basic camera equipment that enemy forces can easily disrupt or deceive.
Cutting-Edge Vision System Replaces Vulnerable GPS
Streem’s solution integrates advanced guidance and navigation capabilities directly into the drone platform itself. His Visual Positioning System utilizes electro-optical or infrared cameras connected to an onboard NVIDIA edge computer, performing real-time terrain matching, celestial navigation, and terminal guidance against pre-loaded mapping data.
The system also incorporates evasive maneuvers designed to counter enemy kinetic interceptors, providing multiple layers of protection for high-value aerial assets.
Already Deployed in Ukraine Theater
Vermeer’s technology has already been deployed operationally in Ukraine, where both sides have demonstrated the devastating effectiveness of jamming and electronic warfare against traditional drone navigation systems.
Streem argues that retrofitting American military drones with his equipment will ultimately deliver significant cost savings for the Department of Defense, despite the initial investment of approximately $20,000 per unit to integrate the VPS technology.
The autonomous nature of the system allows drones to make independent navigation decisions based on visual observation of their environment in real time, eliminating the single point of failure that GPS dependency creates in contested electromagnetic environments.
Future of Autonomous Warfare
As both manned and unmanned aerial platforms become increasingly central to military strategy, addressing their vulnerability to electronic attack has emerged as a critical priority. The ability to jam or spoof enemy drones has proven devastatingly effective in current conflicts, resulting in the loss of expensive weapon systems before they reach their targets.
Streem positions his technology as essential infrastructure for the future of AI-driven combat operations, where electronic warfare capabilities continue to advance alongside autonomous systems.
With information from New York Post
