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

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 cogniti on navigation while exploiting the h igh precision of machine PNT to advance universal PNT. We provide a new perspective and roadmap for shifting PNT from "tool - or iented " to "cogniti on - driven ". Contributions: (1) multi - level dissection of differences among traditional PNT, biological brain PN T and brain - inspired PNT; (2) a four - layer (observation - c apability - decision - hardware) fusion framework that unites numerical precision and brain - inspired intelligence; (3) forward - looking recommendations for future development of brain - inspired PNT . Keywords: Brain - inspired n avigation, PNT, Differences and Conjunction, Fusion F ramework 1. Introduction Unmanned system P ositioning, N avigation, and T iming (PNT) technologies have achieved numerous practical advance s. Particularly noteworthy is the rapid maturation of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) - based PNT, which has not only expanded its application domains but also driven down operational costs. However, these technologies still face formidable challenges in highly uncertain and complex scenarios, such as deep s pace, the deep ocean, polar regions, and dense urban environments.