While autonomous drones become more integrated into logistics, emergency response and industrial applications, the challenge of navigation in environments containing GPS has led to technological breakthroughs. Although the GPS remains the dominant method of outdoor navigation, it is ineffective in places such as warehouses, underground installations, dense urban landscapes and disaster areas. Recent research and industry innovations, including a Case study of Qudata on autonomous navigation of drones without GPSare to reshape the operation of drones without relying on satellite signals.
Unmanned air vehicles (UAV) sailing without GPS must rely on alternative location techniques such as visual domometry, perception based on Lidar and fusion of sensors. By integrating the data from cameras, inertial measurement units (IMU), barometers and radar systems, drones can build environmental models in real time which allow stable and precise movement.
But while computer vision and LIDAR systems have been used for inner navigation, they fight in low light conditions or spaces with repetitive characteristics. Approach these limitations, A MIT team introduced MiflyA system that takes advantage of radiofrequency waves (RF) and retraded signals to provide precise location with minimum material requirements.
Mifly works using a single low -power label which reflects the millimeter wave signals transmitted by the on -board radar of a drone. Unlike traditional systems that require several markers or a complex infrastructure, Mifly's approach is profitable and easier to implement. The drone detects the reflections of the tag, filtering environmental noise thanks to a modulation technique which attributes unique frequencies to distinguish the response from the beacon from other reflections.
To ensure a specific positioning, the researchers set up two radars on the drone – a horizontal and a vertical. Each radar transmits signals with distinct polarizations, allowing the label to separate them and reflect them accordingly. This double polarization method helps the drone to determine its exact space location, even in spaces confined with limited visual references. The data of these radars is then merged with the embedded IMU of the drone, which follows acceleration, altitude and orientation. This integration allows the drone to estimate its complete trajectory in six degrees of freedom, including rotation, movement and inclination adjustments.
During many flight tests in various interior environments, such as dark tunnels, has demonstrated an impressive location of less than seven centimeters. Even when the tag was partially obscured, the system continued to provide reliable results in a six -meter range. The research team believes that this distance can be extended more with improved radar and antenna conceptions.
Beyond the automation of warehouses, this technology has general applications, including help in the event of a disaster, dangerous environmental inspections and military operations. Drons equipped with GPS navigation can help research and rescue missions, navigate in collapsed buildings or explore underground structures without requiring external signal. In addition, the ability to maintain a stable flight in GPS conditions makes these drones ideal for communication relays in distant or obstructed areas.
The next development phase is to integrate Mifly into a fully autonomous navigation system, allowing drones to trace the flight trajectories independently using RF -based location. As industries are relying more and more on drones for critical tasks, innovations like Mifly will be essential to ensure transparent and effective operations, even in the most difficult environments.
Learn more technical details on this UAV navigation approach in paper on Mifly.
