The opto chip's speed also stands to benefit businesses that transmit large amounts of data around the globe, and the military could use it to improve navigation systems for ships and aircraft.

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But scientists point to other technology developed from military systems, such as GPS satellite navigation, which has come down in price and is now increasingly popular.

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Using an approach known as "inertial navigation", modified from military and industrial applications and Dr Donikian's own work with firefighters and first responders, Navisens' algorithms process raw data gleaned from low-cost motion sensors on smartphones.

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Small airplanes flying today already are equipped with sophisticated gear that just a few years ago was available only to airline or military pilots: terrain warning systems, synthetic vision, direct GPS navigation, and more.

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Among those items reportedly slated for decontrol are sensors capable of testing missile silos, high-speed microprocessors with a wide variety of applications for military systems, solid and liquid rocket motors and spacecraft, advanced lasers, electronic navigation equipment, and sophisticated machine tools.

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