Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Without GPS Functionality: Their Significance Explained
In an increasingly interconnected world, the need for drones to operate effectively in environments where GPS is unreliable or unavailable is becoming more pressing. Several companies are at the forefront of developing technologies that enable drones to navigate without the aid of GPS, incorporating advanced sensors and AI to ensure smooth and safe flights.
One such company is ZenaTech, Inc., whose IQ Nano drone is designed for GPS-denied environments, offering mission-critical logistics and situational awareness. The drone, part of ZenaTech's IQ Series product portfolio, is NDAA-compliant and focuses on military applications.
Draganfly Inc. is another key player in this field, providing modular drones adaptable to GPS-denied environments, particularly in military operations. Their drones, such as the Commander 3 XL, are integral to U.S. military operations, especially in environments requiring autonomous systems.
Emesent offers a solution for GPS-denied environments with its Hovermap ST autonomy kit, which uses LiDAR for SLAM-based mapping. This technology is particularly useful in underground or confined areas like mines.
CHAOS, while not primarily a drone manufacturer for GPS-denied environments, has developed technology for navigating complex environments with its Terral Navigation package, which could be leveraged in GPS-denied scenarios.
Flyability's Elios 2 drone is designed for indoor flight and operates without GPS through the use of seven vision stability sensors. The drone is collision-tolerant, allowing it to continue flying after collisions.
Near Earth Autonomy received a grant in 2015 from NASA's UTM project to develop technology for safe, self-piloted takeoff and landing without GPS or maps. NT Robotics has also developed an Autonomous indoor navigation system for drones to perform technical inspections in GPS-denied environments. Onboard visual sensors can help stabilize a drone while in flight without GPS.
The ability to operate without GPS is a fundamental requirement for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) when considering drones for the National Airspace through UTM. The FAA requires drones to be able to navigate in the event of a GPS outage, especially in urban areas where GPS signals can be degraded.
GPS does not require an external connection, making it free from security concerns. However, GPS signals may be difficult to access in large oil storage tanks, industrial boilers, mines, under metal bridges, near critical infrastructure, and under tree cover. Drones may need to operate without GPS in scenarios such as indoor inspections, mining, bridge inspections, critical infrastructure, search and rescue, and surveying disaster sites.
Some governmental agencies may prefer to use a drone that doesn't rely on GPS near critical infrastructure due to perceived security risks, although these concerns seem to be unfounded. NASA provided notes that helped update the security concern-related information presented in this article.
As the demand for GPS-denied drone capabilities grows, new companies working in this field are continually emerging. The list of companies offering such technology is expected to grow in the coming years. These advancements in drone technology will undoubtedly revolutionise various industries, making drone operations safer, more efficient, and more versatile.
- ZenaTech's IQ Nano drone, designed for GPS-denied environments, is part of their IQ Series product portfolio and focuses on military applications, following the need for drones to navigate autonomously in environments where GPS is unreliable or unavailable.
- CHAOS, while not a primary drone manufacturer for GPS-denied environments, has developed technology for navigating complex environments, which could be utilized in GPS-denied scenarios, aligning with the ongoing advancements in drone technology.
- Emesent offers a solution for GPS-denied environments with its Hovermap ST autonomy kit, using LiDAR for SLAM-based mapping, addressing the challenge of drone navigation in underground or confined areas like mines.
- Near Earth Autonomy received a grant in 2015 from NASA's UTM project to develop technology for safe, self-piloted takeoff and landing without GPS or maps, demonstrating the growing emphasis on drone technology that can navigate without GPS, as stipulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for drones in the National Airspace.
