Building low-cost miniature navigation systems for use in inexpensive UAS is the ultimate goal of countless universities and commercial companies.  While many such products are used in real-world unmanned systems, they all have one major drawback: no GPS signal – no luck.

This is because low-cost MEMS inertial sensors have very complex noise characteristics dependent on many factors -- temperature, orientation, motions, power, vibrations, etc.  These characteristics are impossible to model accurately, so primitive data fusion algorithms, such as Kalman Filter or EKF need to rely on GPS signal to bind these errors.  If GPS signal is lost for more than 30 seconds, accuraccy of navigation solution deteriorates below acceptable levels.

This, in turn, prevents UAS from operating where they needed most – in urban and natural canyons, between the trees, at ultra low altitude, etc.  Also, reliance on GPS signal is a major operational risk for users under various circumstances.

Attempts were made to use video, infrared, optical flow, and other kinds of sensors to eliminate the need for GPS signal, however these attempts were not very successful yet due to algorithmic complexity. 

Until now, that is.

Using its proprietary Dynamic Adaptive Interaction algorithm, R3 engineers have designed and successfully demonstrated a unique aerial navigation system called SmartNAV.  SmartNAV is a modular system that combines over 14 different sensors to provide robust and adaptive navigation solution.  Even if one of these sensors fails, SmartNAV will continue to operate with no performance degradation.  Contact us today to learn more about these truly unique devices and using them in your next UAS project.

Oh, and by the way, since we're not a multi-billion dollar defense contractor just yet, the prices for these unique systems will pleasantly surprise you too.