Systems and methods for positioning and navigating objects using phase-synchronized nonlinear oscillators

A method comprising:

• operating a plurality of oscillators in a limit-cycle oscillatory mode, wherein each of the plurality of oscillators is located at a plurality of spatial positions with respect to a pulse-emitting source;
• emitting, by the pulse-emitting source, a periodic pulse sequence signal, wherein the periodic pulse sequence signal propagates to each of the plurality of oscillators with a respective time delay based on corresponding distances of the plurality of oscillators from the pulse-emitting source;
• phase-locking, by a synchronization unit of a processing unit, each of the plurality of oscillators to the periodic pulse sequence signal, wherein each of the plurality of oscillators comprises a phase difference proportional to a time delay of the periodic pulse sequence signal;
• extracting, by a phase comparison unit operatively connected to the output of the plurality of oscillators, a fundamental harmonic frequency from outputs of the plurality of oscillators using a bandpass filter, wherein the bandpass filter is centered at a frequency corresponding to a synchronized oscillator frequency;
• determining, by the phase comparison unit, the phase difference between the outputs of the plurality of oscillators based on the extracted fundamental harmonic frequency;
• computing, by a time delay computation unit of the processing unit, a differential time delay between the plurality of oscillators based on the determined phase difference;
• and
• determining, by the time delay computation unit, a position of the signal-emitting pulse-emitting source by converting the time delays into a relative spatial distance using a predefined propagation velocity of the periodic pulse sequence signal.