What happens when a team of elite AI engineers and former Navy SEALs come together to solve one of the most pressing infrastructure problems of our time?

You get TERN and a game-changing solution that doesn’t just improve navigation, it redefines it.

TERN Founders Featured on Drone Wars Podcast

In this recent episode of Drone Wars, TERN co-founders Shaun Moore and Brett Harrison dive deep into how the TERN team is building the next evolution of wayfinding. The episode unpacks how TERN’s patented IDPS™ (Independently Derived Positioning System) powers vehicle navigation without relying on GPS, cellular, or any external signal. Born out of life-or-death necessity in contested environments, this isn’t theoretical tech; it’s been tested in the field, driven thousands of miles with zero signal, and validated by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“Typically, Navy SEALs aren’t talking to AI engineers,” Harrison responds when questioned about why TERN is different. “But that real-world experience, paired with a team that’s built the world’s fastest facial recognition, has allowed us to move faster and solve this problem better than the big guys.”

That speed and success also come down to culture. From day one, the founders intentionally built an environment where rapid iteration, bold ideas, and clarity of mission are the norm. Further, everyone on the team—developers, operators, designers—believes in the mission because they’ve lived the pain GPS failures create and they’re able to experience TERN in action.

Why Do We Need a GPS Alternative?

The threat is real and growing. GPS jammers can be bought online for $50. Entire regions, from Israel to Sweden, experience signal interference daily. And yet nearly every vehicle, delivery network, and military operation still depends on a signal from space.

TERN’s solution is different. IDPS™ turns every vehicle into its own independent positioning source, using sensors, existing maps, and a proprietary AI “brain” to determine exact location without satellites. It doesn’t just recover from outages. It prevents them from ever being a problem.

“We’re not building enterprise software,” Moore explains. “We’re replacing critical infrastructure. This is about resilience at a national and global scale.”

Validated, Patented, and Ahead of the Curve: TERN’s GPS Alternative

TERN’s early patents have already been cited by global tech giants, but no one’s caught up. “They’re referencing our work but still missing huge pieces,” Moore says. That head start has given TERN a serious first-mover advantage. The technology is already being evaluated by automotive, military, fleet and delivery partners worldwide – as well as the US Department of Transportation and the Department of Defense.

But perhaps the most exciting part? The applications extend far beyond tunnels and urban canyons. From autonomous vehicles to logistics fleets to critical emergency response, IDPS™ unlocks a smarter, safer, and more sustainable navigation standard. The use cases continue to grow.

“The GPS system we rely on today was never designed for this world,” Harrison adds. “TERN is.”

Listen to the full podcast.

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