Sixdof Space
About
About Sixdof Space
Sixdof uses modulated infrared beacons and compact optical sensors to calculate a platform’s position and orientation without relying on GNSS. The sensor identifies the coded beacons, measures their relative geometry and returns a six-degree-of-freedom pose at high update rates. The method operates indoors and outdoors, including direct sunlight, and has been tested across distances reaching approximately 100 metres.
A drone can use the pose output for precision landing on a marked pad, while robots and machines can use it for docking, alignment or local navigation. Falcon and Cheetah configurations package the sensing and processing around different range and platform requirements. The customer integrates the output with its own flight controller, robot controller and safety system.
Supply
Supply chain relationships
- Lockheed Martin
Outbound - Perception - Sixdof Space was selected to provide 6DOF positioning for Lockheed Martin's autonomous aerial-refueling programme
Source
Team
- Chris Biow - VP of Sales
- Daniel Greenspan - Co-founder
- Dr. Klony Lieberman - Co-founder and CTO
- Mark Goldfarb - Co-founder and CEO
Timeline
Events
- 2026-03-20 - Contract Award - Sixdof Space selected for Lockheed Martin air-refueling subcontract
Infrared location beacons provide positional data to the receiving aircraft host system. The tracking approach is designed for the high speeds encountered during aerial refueling.
Source - 2025-01-09 - Partnership - Sixdof Space joins MassRobotics healthcare catalyst cohort
MITRE mentorship focused on identifying healthcare and emergency-response customers and an engagement strategy. Mitsubishi robotics integration was a programme milestone for healthcare applications. The cohort was scheduled to present its progress at the Robotics Summit and Expo in May 2025.
Source - 2024-09-24 - Contract Award - Sixdof Space joins SHARK aerial-refueling development team
The $3.19 million contract was awarded to prime contractor Legionnaire International. MatrixSpace and Target Arm also joined the development team. SHARK was designed as a potentially podded refueling boom for tactical aircraft.
Source
Context
Comparable profiles
- IR-LOCK
stack adjacency - Precision Landing Sensor Supplier
Context tags
- Visual positioning system - Peer Group - Sixdof supplies optical 6DOF positioning systems using coded-infrared beacons and tracker boards: https://www.sixdofspace.com/productoverview
- Precision landing sensor supplier - Stack Layer - Sixdof supplies coded-infrared beacons and optical tracker boards for autonomous precision landing: https://www.sixdofspace.com/productoverview
Commercial
- Sixdof Space selected for Lockheed Martin air-refueling subcontract
2026-03-20 · Order / contract · Sixdof Space was selected to support Lockheed Martin and AFRL work on next-generation autonomous air-refueling capability.
Source - Sixdof Space joins SHARK aerial-refueling development team
2024-09-24 · Order / contract · Sixdof Space joined the team led by Legionnaire International to develop a Small Hybrid Aerial Refueling Kit under an AFWERX contract.
Source