A Preliminary Exploration of the Differences and Conjunction of Traditional PNT and Brain-inspired PNT

Abstract: Developing universal Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) is our enduring goal. Today's complex environments demand PNT that is more resilient, energy-efficient and cognitively capable. This paper asks how we can endow unmanned systems with brain-inspired spatial cognition navigation while exploiting the high precision of machine PNT to advance universal PNT. We provide a new perspective and roadmap for shifting PNT from "tool-oriented" to "cognition-driven". Contributions: (1) multi-level dissection of differences among traditional PNT, biological brain PNT and brain-inspired PNT; (2) a four-layer (observation-capability-decision-hardware) fusion framework that unites numerical precision and brain-inspired intelligence; (3) forward-looking recommendations for future development of brain-inspired PNT.