In a significant advancement for navigation technology, Australian company Advanced Navigation has partnered with MBDA UK to develop a cutting-edge navigation system that promises to revolutionize positioning for airborne platforms, particularly in environments where GPS signals are unreliable or unavailable. This innovative system is designed to provide accurate absolute positioning, ensuring that drones and other aerial systems can operate effectively without the need for external signals, thus making them immune to interference.
As interference with GPS signals becomes increasingly common, the need for resilient and reliable positioning systems has never been more pressing. Chris Shaw, CEO of Advanced Navigation, highlights this growing challenge, stating, “Commercial and military sectors can no longer rely solely on GNSS for flight operations.” This sentiment resonates across various industries, including agriculture, where the demand for autonomous systems is surging. Furthermore, the technology aligns with expanding legal mandates that require alternatives to traditional GPS-based solutions, paving the way for a new era of navigation.
The system’s development draws inspiration from biological processes, particularly through the use of patent-pending technology from Nileq, a subsidiary of MBDA UK based in Bristol. When mounted on platforms, such as agricultural drones, the system employs a camera to capture and analyze the environment below, identifying landmarks and features. The images collected are then compared with a pre-existing Earth surface database using a technique known as map matching. This innovative approach allows the system to determine its precise location, significantly enhancing inertial navigation by providing frequent position updates and recalibrating the system’s location.
Central to this breakthrough is the incorporation of a neuromorphic camera, which mimics the human retina. Unlike conventional high-resolution cameras that generate large datasets and require extensive computational power, the neuromorphic camera produces substantially less data and operates at much greater speeds. It detects brightness changes across individual pixels, enabling a more efficient processing method that is particularly advantageous for small, power-limited devices such as drones. This efficiency is crucial, as traditional image-based navigation systems often struggle with the high data demands of conventional cameras, making them unsuitable for many applications.
The implications of this technology extend beyond just navigation; it has the potential to transform operations in sectors like agriculture. Advanced Navigation is already active in the agricultural field, providing navigation solutions for companies focused on designing autonomous farm robots or retrofitting traditional machines for autonomous operations. The advantages of these autonomous systems are manifold. They not only reduce labor costs but also enhance the precision of agricultural practices. For instance, the ability to detect and geo-reference crop hazards, such as weeds and pests, allows farmers to apply pesticides or herbicides more accurately. This targeted approach reduces chemical usage and promotes healthier soil, leading to significant savings in both time and costs while improving crop quality and yield.
As the agricultural sector increasingly embraces automation, the collaboration between Advanced Navigation and MBDA UK represents a pivotal step forward. By providing a robust navigation solution that operates independently of GPS, this partnership is set to enhance the safety and performance of drones and other aerial systems, particularly in operations beyond visual line of sight. The ability to navigate accurately without reliance on external signals not only addresses current challenges but also opens new avenues for innovation in various sectors, making this development a noteworthy milestone in the realm of agritech and beyond.