The world of navigation technology is facing a critical challenge: What happens when global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) fail?
Advanced Navigation, an Australian tech company, is tackling this issue head-on. Their recent participation in the US Army's APEX experiment showcased a remarkable solution: an assured PNT (APNT) navigation system that thrives in GNSS-degraded or denied environments.
But here's where it gets technical... The Boreas D90, a fiber-optic gyroscope-based inertial navigation system, was the star of the show. It uses gyro-compassing to find true north by detecting Earth's rotation, a crucial ability when GNSS signals are compromised. When paired with a laser velocity sensor (LVS), it achieved an astonishing dead-reckoning accuracy, with only 0.012% error over 65 kilometers. And when combined with a wheel-speed encoder, it maintained accuracy without GNSS, even under heavy jamming!
The secret sauce? AdNav Intelligence software. It dynamically assesses sensor inputs, considering reliability, environmental factors, and threats like jamming. This ensures the system always relies on the most accurate data.
Chris Shaw, CEO of Advanced Navigation, emphasizes the importance of this technology in modern warfare. He states, "The enemy will exploit GNSS vulnerabilities. Relying solely on GNSS is a critical risk." But is this a controversial statement? Some might argue that GNSS is too established to be easily replaced. However, Shaw's solution is not about replacement but about creating a resilient backup.
Advanced Navigation's commitment to this technology is evident, with their third APEX participation and recent high-profile appointments. Pawel Michalak, a geodesy PhD holder, joined as CTO, and Michelle Toscan, with a background in tech and the military, became Head of APAC.
As the world navigates the complexities of GNSS assurance, Advanced Navigation's work is a beacon of innovation. But is it enough? The debate is open: Are multi-sensor fusion systems the future of navigation, or is there a better, yet undiscovered, solution? Share your thoughts in the comments!
