arXiv subjects

Guy Damari

Publications and source records attributed to Guy Damari.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A Unified Neural-Aided Alignment and Calibration Method for AUVs

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) rely on the fusion of inertial navigation systems (INS) and Doppler velocity logs (DVL) for accurate navigation. Before deployment, this fusion requires a DVL initialization pipeline consisting of two stages: alignment, which estimates the rotation between the INS and DVL frames, and calibration, which estimates the DVL error terms. Conventionally, both stages are solved with model-based algorithms that demand complex vehicle maneuvers, surface-level satellite reference measurements, and simplified error models, making initialization time-consuming, trajectory-dependent, and sensitive to sensor quality. In this work, we propose a fully neural- aided DVL initialization pipeline that replaces both stages with two complementary neural networks: ResAlignNet for alignment and DCNet for calibration. The unified pipeline operates in situ on a single nearly constant-velocity trajectory and uses the same inputs as the model-based baseline. Using real-world data recorded across five distinct sensor error-term combinations, the proposed pipeline reduces the velocity root mean squared error by an average of 68.7% over the model-based baseline, using only 25s of data for initialization.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2026

AI-Aided Advancements in Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Navigation

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have become indispensable for deep-sea exploration, spanning critical scientific research and commercial applications. The rapid attenuation of electromagnetic waves renders satellite radio signals unavailable, while the dynamic unpredictability of the marine environment presents formidable navigation challenges. This chapter explores recent advancements in AI-aided AUV positioning, specifically focusing on advanced sensor fusion architectures that integrate inertial navigation systems with Doppler velocity logs and cameras. Beyond traditional model-based filtering, we examine the transformative emergence of AI-driven learning approaches in enhancing inertial dead-reckoning tasks and adaptive fusion algorithms. By addressing these recent milestones, this chapter provides a comprehensive roadmap for achieving the high-precision navigation essential for autonomous underwater missions.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2025

ResAlignNet: A Data-Driven Approach for INS/DVL Alignment

Autonomous underwater vehicles rely on precise navigation systems that combine the inertial navigation system and the Doppler velocity log for successful missions in challenging environments where satellite navigation is unavailable. The effectiveness of this integration critically depends on accurate alignment between the sensor reference frames. Standard model-based alignment methods between these sensor systems suffer from lengthy convergence times, dependence on prescribed motion patterns, and reliance on external aiding sensors, significantly limiting operational flexibility. To address these limitations, this paper presents ResAlignNet, a data-driven approach using the 1D ResNet-18 architecture that transforms the alignment problem into deep neural network optimization, operating as an in-situ solution that requires only sensors on board without external positioning aids or complex vehicle maneuvers, while achieving rapid convergence in seconds. Additionally, the approach demonstrates the learning capabilities of Sim2Real transfer, enabling training in synthetic data while deploying in operational sensor measurements. Experimental validation using the Snapir autonomous underwater vehicle demonstrates that ResAlignNet achieves alignment accuracy within 0.8{\deg} using only 25 seconds of data collection, representing a 65\% reduction in convergence time compared to standard velocity-based methods. The trajectory-independent solution eliminates motion pattern requirements and enables immediate vehicle deployment without lengthy pre-mission procedures, advancing underwater navigation capabilities through robust sensor-agnostic alignment that scales across different operational scenarios and sensor specifications.

cs.RO↗

arXiv2025

A Data-Driven Method for INS/DVL Alignment

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are sophisticated robotic platforms crucial for a wide range of applications. The accuracy of AUV navigation systems is critical to their success. Inertial sensors and Doppler velocity logs (DVL) fusion is a promising solution for long-range underwater navigation. However, the effectiveness of this fusion depends heavily on an accurate alignment between the inertial sensors and the DVL. While current alignment methods show promise, there remains significant room for improvement in terms of accuracy, convergence time, and alignment trajectory efficiency. In this research we propose an end-to-end deep learning framework for the alignment process. By leveraging deep-learning capabilities, such as noise reduction and capture of nonlinearities in the data, we show using simulative data, that our proposed approach enhances both alignment accuracy and reduces convergence time beyond current model-based methods.

cs.RO↗