US Navy's hypersonic vehicles to get GPS-free navigation boost from Anello Photonics
Anello Photonics, a leading firm in silicon photonics technology, has been awarded a contract by the US Navy to develop a cutting-edge navigation system to help hypersonic vehicles operate even in GPS-denied environments.
'Anello was selected for a Small Business Innovation Research Phase I due to its innovative optical gyroscope technology and its unique sensor fusion engine,' the company informed.
The company's Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG) technology and sensor fusion engine aim to bring significant advances in navigation.
'This will ensure that the US Navy platforms can maintain high-accuracy navigation in challenging GPS-denied situations,' said the company.
SiPhOG is a compact, ultra-lightweight, and high-performance optical gyroscope. It promises to deliver accurate guidance even when the Global Positioning System (GPS) signals are unavailable or compromised.
Traditional navigation systems often rely heavily on GPS. However, in contested environments where hypersonic vehicles operate, GPS signals can be easily disrupted or denied by adversaries.
Anello's SiPhOG technology offers a unique approach to navigation in GPS-denied environments.
In typical operations, a loss of GPS signal often triggers a failsafe mode in the autopilot system. This can lead to undesirable outcomes such as hovering in place, an emergency landing, or even a crash.
However, with Anello's SiPhOG technology, specifically demonstrated in their recently launched Anello X3, the system can seamlessly detect GPS signal disruption.
Instead of resorting to a failsafe mode, the SiPhOG gyroscope provides continuous and accurate navigation data, allowing the vehicle to maintain controlled flight even in the presence of GPS jamming.
The technology employs the principles of interferometry to precisely measure a vehicle's rotation and orientation.
Within the SiPhOG, laser light travels through a microscopic waveguide etched onto a silicon chip. This chip also contains integrated optical components that manipulate the light, creating interference patterns. By analyzing these patterns, the SiPhOG can determine the vehicle's precise movements with exceptional accuracy.
Under the latest contract, the company will focus on demonstrating the capabilities of SiPhOG and the sensor fusion engine over a six-month period.
If successful, the project will progress to Phase II, which will involve developing a prototype navigation system and rigorous testing in simulated hypersonic flight conditions.
Phase III aims to integrate the prototype onto a representative hypersonic vehicle for demonstration and assessment during Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) events.
Amid the increasing geopolitical tensions and the use of new war technologies, the requirement for GPS-free hypersonic vehicles has intensified. This latest award by the US Navy reflects the same broader trend.
'Within this program, the U.S. Navy can directly evaluate and experience first-hand the benefits of the Anello products for navigation in GPS-denied or contested environments,' concluded Dr. Mario Paniccia, CEO of Anello Photonics.
Notably, several studies have been conducted in this regard. Recently, the Sandia National Laboratories of the US developed 'the mother of all motion sensors', which aims to enable GPS-free navigation for air defense vehicles.
Besides, Sydney-based Advanced Navigation has partnered with MBDA to develop a system that will allow drones to soar high in the sky and navigate without GPS.
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