Army SBIR Partnership with Compound Eye Fuels GPS-Free Navigation and Autonomous Driving Innovation
Compound Eye’s journey from startup to strategic defense partner highlights how Army FUZE is leveraging the xTech and Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR|STTR) programs to unlock dual-use innovation. After raising more than $20 million in private capital and securing $13.3 million in Army SBIR CATALYST funding, Compound Eye now develops GPS-free navigation systems that support warfighters and bridge commercial breakthroughs with national defense priorities.
09/23/2025
Artificial Intelligence Dual-Use Solutions Next Gen Capability Warfighter Readiness CATALYST SBIR xTech
Key Takeaways
- Private Investment: Raised $20.6 million across four funding rounds, including a $12.8 million Series B in 2025 led by top-tier institutional investors.
- xTech Launchpad: Entered the Army innovation ecosystem via xTechSearch 5, earning $145,000 and Accelerator support.
- SBIR Growth: Secured two distinct Direct to Phase II SBIR contracts for a total of $3.1 million to adapt its Visual Inertial Distributed Aperture System (VIDAS) technology for Army combat vehicles and autonomous ground systems.
- CATALYST Funding: Received $13.3 million through Army SBIR CATALYST to advance VIDAS-Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), a GPS-independent navigation solution.
- Dual-Use Strategic Value: Delivers GPS-free navigation for defense and commercial sectors, demonstrating mission-aligned innovation with broad market relevance.
Technology Spotlight: Passive 3D Mapping for GPS-Denied Navigation
Compound Eye’s Visual Inertial Distributed Aperture System (VIDAS) uses cameras and inertial sensors to deliver passive, AI-powered three-dimensional mapping without emitting detectable signals. Originally built for autonomous vehicles, VIDAS offers a stealthy alternative to light detection and ranging (LiDAR), making it ideal for military use in GPS-denied environments and aligning with Army operational priorities.
Innovation in Action
In 2020, Compound Eye joined the Army innovation ecosystem through xTechSearch 5, earning $145,000 and a spot in the xTech Accelerator Program. The following year, it received its first $1.56 million Direct to Phase II SBIR award to adapt VIDAS for Army combat vehicles, in partnership with Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems (PEO GCS) to ensure they were meeting Army ground vehicle requirements.
Just a year later, Compound Eye and PEO GCS received a second Direct to Phase II SBIR award that sought to enhance perception sensing of the Army’s autonomous ground systems, specifically in both range and precision in more complex environments.
The company also gained strong commercial traction. By 2025, Compound Eye had raised $20.6 million in private capital, including a $12.8 million Series B round led by top-tier institutional investors, as well as a total of $20 million in funding across the DOW.
That momentum positioned Compound Eye to compete for the Army SBIR CATALYST Program, which requires alignment with both an Army transition partner (PEO GCS) and an industry integrator, RTX Advantage. Compound Eye secured $13.3 million from the Army SBIR CATALYST program to advance VIDAS into VIDAS- Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). Building on VIDAS, VIDAS-SLAM extends passive mapping into full simultaneous localization and mapping, enabling Army vehicles and autonomous platforms to operate in GPS-denied or degraded environments, which is a critical ability gap for future operations.
Strategic Impact
Compound Eye’s technology advances autonomy across defense and commercial sectors, supporting warfighters in contested environments and enabling autonomous vehicles in complex urban settings. Its success reflects the dual-use innovation model championed by innovation pathways within Army FUZE, which identifies promising commercial technologies and adapts them for defense applications while accelerating deployment into operational environments.
The future of defense innovation increasingly depends on companies like Compound Eye that deliver advanced capabilities for national security while thriving in commercial markets. Through the Army FUZE ecosystem, innovators are able to secure funding and advance research and development efforts grounded in collaboration. By building strategic pathways that bridge Silicon Valley’s cutting-edge ingenuity with Army mission requirements, FUZE ensures that transformative technologies move beyond ideas and into impact for the warfighter.