Two companies that specialize in navigation technologies are working together to create a GPS-free solution for drones. Sydney-based Advanced Navigation has partnered with global defense company MBDA to jointly develop a fingerprint-inspired navigation system that integrates the latter's NILEQ absolute positioning technology.
This technology uses advanced neuromorphic sensor to compare and generate terrain fingerprints. Inspired by biological change detection mechanisms, it records changes in terrain as an airborne system moves over it, matching the data to a pre-existing Earth surface database.
In a press release, Advanced Navigation said that the solution would be "appropriate for modern times" and provide absolute positional accuracy for many airborne platforms.
Visual navigation systems enhance inertial navigation because they provide accurate location updates on a regular basis, which allows for recalibration of the position. Conventional systems use cameras with high resolution, which generate enormous data. This must be compared to satellite images using methods that are computationally intensive. It is difficult to incorporate such computing resources into small, low-power vehicles such as drones.
NILEQ uses a camera that is based on the retina of a human to solve these problems. The neuromorphic cameras produce less data, and operate at a much faster speed than conventional cameras that take pictures sequentially. It detects the brightness of individual pixels.
The system uses proprietary algorithms to generate topographical prints that are matched with the position of the vehicle. The terrain fingerprints derived from the camera output are compared with a database preloaded of fingerprints created from satellite images. This process compresses data and allows the database to fit on the vehicle. The design reduces the computational load during search and comparison in real time, which makes it ideal for drones or other platforms with limited resources.
In an ever-changing world, where the interference has become ubiquitous, both commercial and military aviation can't rely on GPS alone for their flight operations. In a recent statement, Chris Shaw, the CEO of Advanced Navigation said that there is an urgent requirement for navigation systems to complement platform inertial and GPS receivers.
According to IEEE Spectrum, although neuromorphic camera systems are typically more expensive than conventional ones -- usually around $1,000 -- they can be combined with inertial navigation system (INS) that cost less to create a cheaper solution. The cost of high-end navigation systems can be hundreds of thousands, but the combination of neuromorphic camera technology with an inexpensive INS provides significant savings and benefits.
Satellite-based navigation, although it's often used to locate a vehicle, isn't always reliable. To provide a single, reliable position reading, Advanced Navigation combines the outputs from the neuromorphic camera and INS with its AI-powered sensor fusion software. The system can be used without much training because it works like a GPS.
In a joint statement, the companies said that their solution supports "growing legal requirements" for GPS alternative technologies. The integrated navigation system will undergo flight tests later this year and should be available to consumers by mid-2025.