System and methods for reducing the map search space requirements in a vision-inertial navigation system

A system, comprising:

• a vehicle;
• an imaging device onboard the vehicle, wherein the imaging device is configured to generate an image scan, and receive at least one image responsive to the image scan;
• a processing device, wherein the processing device is configured to receive and store the at least one image;
• a navigation system onboard the vehicle, wherein the navigation system is configured to store an image of a map;
• and
• a learning network associated with the navigation system, wherein the learning network is configured to divide the image of the map into a plurality of map subsections, recognize each one of a plurality of images of different landmarks on the map, generate a set of classifications for each map subsection, and associate each classification of the set of classifications with at least one landmark of the different landmarks on the map.

A method, comprising:

• providing aerial map imagery of an area associated with a prospective mission for a vehicle in flight;
• dividing the aerial map imagery into a plurality of map subsections;
• recognizing a plurality of landmarks in the plurality of map subsections;
• generating a list of the recognized landmarks and their respective locations in the plurality of map subsections;
• providing real-time aerial imagery during the prospective mission;
• recognizing a plurality of landmarks in the real-time imagery and generating a second list of the recognized landmarks in the real-time imagery;
• comparing the second list of the recognized plurality of landmarks in the real-time imagery with the list of the recognized landmarks in the plurality of map subsections;
• and
• matching the recognized landmarks in the real-time imagery with the recognized landmarks in the map subsections.