Cloud technology breakthrough makes GPS 100 times more accurate

A California-based company says it has overcome one of GPS's biggest limitations using cloud software.

Swift Navigation has launched Skylark, a cloud-based positioning technology designed to correct GPS errors and deliver centimeter-level accuracy, a level of accuracy considered military- grade.

A Skylark system deployed in testing showed a significant increase in accuracy. Photo: SWIFT Tech

Traditional GPS typically provides positioning accuracy within a range of 3 to 10 meters (9 to 32 feet), which is sufficient for general navigation purposes but may not be accurate enough for many types of autonomous vehicles or drones.

With Skylark, the company promises to reduce that error by a factor of 100, turning meters into centimeters.

Instead of relying on ground infrastructure, the technology uses advanced atmospheric modeling, carrier-grade networking, and a fully cloud-based architecture to correct signal distortion in real-time.

Hình ảnh hiển thị lỗi tín hiệu GPS từ không gian đến Trái Đất, bao gồm độ chính xác của đồng hồ, quỹ đạo, tầng điện ly và tầng đối lưu. Ảnh: Swift Navigation — Image showing GPS signal errors from space to Earth, including clock, orbit, ionosphere and troposphere inaccuracies. Photo: Swift Navigation

This reportedly makes it cheaper and easier to deploy on platforms like cars, delivery drones, and mobile robots.

The company says Skylark is the first and only real-time, cloud-based navigation system certified to meet critical safety standards for road vehicles.

Swift Navigation has secured $50 million in Series E funding to accelerate the global rollout of its high-precision positioning technology.

Các thiết bị tương thích với dịch vụ định vị chính xác của Skylark. Ảnh: Chụp màn hình qua Swift Navigation/YouTube — Devices compatible with Skylark's precise location service. Photo: Screenshot via Swift Navigation/YouTube

This funding round was led by Crosslink Capital, with participation from existing investors including New Enterprise Associates, Eclipse Ventures and First Round Capital.

New investors, including Niterra Ventures, AlTi Tiedemann Global and EnerTech Capital, are pushing Swift's total funding to more than $250 million.

The new funding will continue product development, expand partnerships and drive broader adoption for civilian and military purposes, said company CEO Timothy Harris .

“We are thrilled to have received support from a strong group of investors who recognize the transformative power of precision positioning,” said Harris. “This funding will allow us to accelerate our growth and continue to innovate.”