Skip to main content
LivestreamHear more about how Niantic Spatial is working with NVIDIA and Flexion to close the Sim-to-Real gap!Watch now
Contact sales
Company

The team, partners and resources behind Niantic Spatial.

Precise visual-based positioning anywhere in the world.

Our Visual Positioning System (VPS) turns standard cameras into precise 3DOF or 6DOF positioning sensors, combining global vision-based positioning with customers’ mapped data for seamless indoor and outdoor operation by people and machines.

Deliver assured localization across contested, robotic, and mobile applications, on hardware already in the field and even when GPS is denied.

CameraAny standard camera
Ground mapsFrom captures and reconstructions
Aerial mapsDrone-captured
SatelliteWhen no local map exists
Localization
WorksIndoors, outdoors, GPS-denied
DeploymentOn device, edge container or cloud, online or offline
IntegrationFuses with GPS and your navigation stack
3DoFPosition and heading
6DoFFull pose (latitude/longitude, altitude, heading, pitch, roll)
Private mapsPrecise positioning on your sites with access you control

Watch a robot localize

A simulation of our Visual Positioning System: a moving robot matches what its camera sees against a 3D model to stay precisely located.

Maps for machines demo

Adaptive VPS for GPS-denied and disconnected environments

  1. Ground-to-air localization
    Localize ground devices against drone-captured maps, covering large areas without mapping every route on foot. VPS can localize ground actors against aerial imagery to within 0.5m and 0.5° of ground truth, even in GPS-denied DDIL environments.
  2. Satellite fallback
    When no local map exists, orient against satellite imagery through our partnership with Vantor.
  3. Private maps
    Enhance global vision-based positioning with your own site maps and keep localization current as environments change.

Fits in your stack and keeps you in control.

Integrate with your navigation stackA passive, vision-based positioning layer feeds pose estimates into the navigation system your vehicle or device already uses.
Private by default. Own your data and control accessRetain ownership of your spatial data with encrypted storage and control over who can localize where.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is VPS, and how does it work?

Niantic Spatial’s Visual Positioning System (VPS) uses camera imagery to determine position and orientation. By matching what a camera sees against spatial data, VPS gives robots, vehicles, and field teams a shared reference for where they are and where they’re looking.

Can VPS work without GPS or network connectivity?

VPS can localize using visual data when GPS is degraded or denied. Cloud localization requires connectivity; network-denied operation requires an appropriate on-device or edge configuration, with deployment requirements defined for your application.

Do I need to map a site before using VPS?

Not every area requires a site-specific scan. VPS can use broader map and imagery sources for position and heading estimates, while detailed site maps enable precise 6DOF localization. Customers can add their own mapped data, and ground devices can localize against drone-captured maps.

How accurate is VPS?

Accuracy depends on the localization method, map quality, and operating conditions. In ground-to-air testing, VPS localized ground actors within 0.5 meters and 0.5 degrees of ground truth in GPS-denied environments. These results describe tested conditions, not a universal accuracy guarantee.

Does VPS require dedicated positioning hardware or a new navigation stack?

VPS uses standard cameras rather than dedicated positioning hardware or installed beacons. Available through the Niantic Spatial Development Kit (NSDK), it feeds position and orientation estimates into the navigation system your vehicle or device already uses.