The new autopilot is engineered to provide reliable GNSS‑denied navigation and fully autonomous mission execution, including complex operational scenarios and seamless interoperability.
UAV Navigation — a division of Grupo Oesía specializing in advanced guidance, navigation and control solutions for unmanned vehicles — has launched the Vector-300high‑performance autopilot.
Vector-300 is designed to meet the industrial and operational requirements of mass‑produced, attritable unmanned aerial systems, with a clear focus on loitering munition and Counter-UAS (C-UAS) interceptor applications.
Vector‑300 has been engineered to combine advanced autonomous guidance, navigation and control (GNC) capabilities with scalability and manufacturability. Its architecture is designed to reduce technical complexity and enable agile, large‑scale production while ensuring consistent and reliable performance across high‑volume deployments.
Designed for high‑dynamic interception and terminal missions, Vector‑300 delivers strike‑to‑target precision guidance with bull’s eye accuracy. The autopilot supports the integration of AI‑based target identification and optical data directly into its autonomous GNC loops, enabling advanced engagement of both static and dynamic targets. This architecture supports real‑time trajectory adaptation during pursuit and terminal engagement phases, making Vector‑300 suitable for demanding loitering munition and C-UAS interceptor operations.
Vector‑300 is designed to operate in highly contested and GNSS‑denied environments, even under electronic warfare (EW) jamming, spoofing and meaconing. Its robust navigation core relies on advanced inertial algorithms and multisensor fusion to ensure mission continuity across all phases of operation and can be easily complemented with UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía proprietary solutions such as the Visual Navigation System to enhance dead‑reckoning accuracy.
Building on the battlefield-proven capabilities of the Vectorautopilot family, Vector‑300 enables the full range of advanced operations already established across UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía solutions. These include
fully autonomous mission execution
swarming and formation flight
4D trajectory management to reach targets at a predefined time
high‑dynamic maneuvers
manned‑unmanned teaming (MUT) operations
many other advanced autonomous capabilities.
Its open and modular architecture is designed to ensure interoperability with third‑party platforms, payloads and sensors through seamless integration with Vector‑MCC. This architecture also enables the integration of autonomous decision‑making software, allowing platforms equipped with Vector‑300 to adapt to evolving concepts of operation and advanced autonomy requirements.
The USX51 Computing Power Flight Controller by UTMSYS is a system architecture that combines the Pixhawk 6X flight controller with the D Robotics RDK X5 edge-computing module.
According to the development team, the goal of the USX51 platform is not only to provide hardware, but to simplify complex UAV system integration for developers, research teams, and robotics engineers working on real world deployment scenarios.
The USX51 system integrates Pixhawk 6X and RDK X5 to support PX4-based UAV development for GNSS-denied, VTOL, and multi-sensor applications.
The system is designed to support PX4-based UAV development while separating real-time flight control tasks from high compute perception workloads. This decoupled architecture helps maintain flight stability while allowing developers to expand into vision based and autonomous applications.
The USX51 supports development scenarios including:
GNSS-denied navigation
VTOL mission platforms
Multi-sensor integration
Visual perception and tracking
ROS2-based robotics workflows
Research and autonomous UAV development
Credit: UTMSYS
The Pixhawk 6X handles flight critical control functions, while the RDK X5 module provides onboard computing capability for visual processing, sensor fusion, and autonomous related workloads.
The system also provides multiple communication interfaces including Ethernet, CAN, UART and I2C, allowing developers to integrate cameras, thermal modules, lidar systems, and additional peripherals into their UAV projects.
Current ecosystem development around USX51 includes PX4 integration, ROS2 workflows, developer testing programs, and community based project collaboration.
The UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía flight control system, as a subcontractor to SATNUS, proved key to the success of the demonstration.
In March, the Spanish consortium SATNUS successfully completed the fourth flight demonstration campaign under Pillar 3 of the Next Generation Weapon System / Future Combat Air System (NGWS/FCAS) program, held at the INTA‑CEDEA facilities. The campaign comprised a total of nine flights aimed at verifying the flight control software dedicated to collaborative manned‑unmanned teaming (MUT) operations, led by SATNUS and developed in cooperation with international partners Airbus GmbH and MBDA, and integrated into the Next Generation Autonomy Computer (NGAC). During these tests, the remote carriers were represented by both real and simulated platforms of the manned‑unmanned teaming & common systems demonstrator (MCSD).
During the campaign, key MUT functionalities were demonstrated, including formation flight, evasive maneuvers, collaborative navigation, mission replanning and formation breakup, among other capabilities. Flights involved up to three real Remote Carriers operating simultaneously, supported by UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía’s technological contribution in guidance, navigation and control (GNC) systems, which acted as a key enabler for the safe execution of the flight maneuvers carried out within the objectives defined by SATNUS under Pillar 3 of the NGWS/FCAS program.
The campaign concluded with the execution of flights 29, 30, and 31, in the presence of the Combined Project Team (CPT) and representatives from the National Program Offices of the three participating nations: Spain, France and Germany.
Engineering teams from all SATNUS partner companies, including members from UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía, carried out highly specialized work to achieve this milestone, successfully meeting all established objectives. In this context, UAV Navigation–Grupo Oesía’s contribution supported the proper execution of operations and helped validate the capabilities demonstrated throughout the campaign.
SATNUS has expressed its appreciation for the support and trust of the Spanish Armed Forces and the Spanish Ministry of Defence throughout the entire process and will continue advancing the development of capabilities within other NGWS/FCAS-related programs.
The U.S. commercial drone industry is at an inflection point. After years of incremental progress, the FAA’s landmark Part 108 Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) rule is expected to take effect later this year, unlocking a new era of scaled commercial drone operations across delivery, infrastructure inspection, public safety, perimeter protection and beyond. It’s a pivotal moment for drone operators to get ahead of the most significant regulatory shift the commercial drone industry has seen.
Today, AirData UAV announced it is joining the Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA), bringing its operational platform into the industry’s broadest coalition for drone policy and progress. As a member of the CDA, AirData will actively contribute to the policies and standards that will define the next chapter of the U.S. drone economy through the CDA.
Part 108 introduces sweeping new operational requirements across pre-, during and post-flight documentation, personnel roles, risk-categorized operational areas, and mandatory continuous data reporting, and AirData’s platform is already built to meet them.
“We are at a critical moment for the drone economy,” said Lisa Ellman, Chief Executive Officer of the Commercial Drone Alliance. “As the industry moves toward broader BVLOS operations and frameworks like Part 108, access to scalable, reliable operational data such as that which AirData provides will help to safely unlock the full potential of the drone economy.”
Credit: AirData UAV
AirData’s platform delivers the tools operators will need to meet Part 108’s requirements, including: checklists, automated compliance documentation, flight logging across every mission, and fleet-wide analytics that give program managers visibility into operational risk. With more than 61 million flights across 450,000 pilots and 850,000 drones globally, AirData has been building the compliance infrastructure the industry now needs.
As the industry’s leading policy advocate, the CDA has been central to advancing the regulatory frameworks. The CDA is an independent non-profit organization led by key members of the commercialdrone industry. It works to educate policymakers and the public on the safe integration of drones into the national airspace and to advocate for policies that enable commercial drone operations.
“We have long served as the intelligence backbone for drone operations,” Eran Steiner, CEO and founder of AirData UAV. “We look forward to leveraging our data, insights, and experience to enable scalable, compliant, and mission-critical drone programs, particularly as frameworks like Part 108 unlock the next phase of scaled BVLOS operations in the United States.”
AirData’s platform gives public safety agencies, enterprise operators, and drone programs of every size the maintenance documentation, pilot currency tracking, asset management, checklist discipline, and operational data history that regulators will expect when Part 108 takes effect.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a proposed rule that would allow specific categories of critical infrastructure sites to apply for restrictions on drone operations around their facilities.
The restrictions would be submitted and approved via a new FAA web portal. Approval will be based on safety or security criteria. Sixteen sectors would be eligible for restrictions including energy production, transportation systems, chemical facilities, water treatment plants, and defense industrial complexes.
The rule would establish two types of restrictions:
Standard Unmanned Aircraft Flight Restriction (UAFR): A general restriction that bars unmanned aircraft operations within a specific boundary, except for operators who have previously met rigorous safety and security standards.
Special Unmanned Aircraft Flight Restriction (UAF): A much more severe restriction that bars unmanned aircraft operations within a specific boundary for all operators unless they have the express prior approval from both the FAA and the sponsoring agency (for example, the Department of Homeland Security).
The restricted area would have clearly defined horizontal and vertical boundaries. Violators could face civil or criminal penalties.
The rule would also allow site operator to contact law enforcement if a drone flew in a restricted area, after which authorities can use Remote ID to locate the control station or operator. Pilots could face license suspensions, revocations, fines and criminal charges for entering these no fly zones.
Drone operators are encouraged to check B4UFLY for the latest breakdown on where pilots can and cannot fly.
Additional Information:
Restriction criteria includes impacts to aviation safety, protecting people and property on the ground, national security, or homeland security.
The full list of eligible site categories are:
Chemical
Commercial
Communications
Critical manufacturing
Dams
Defense industrial base
Emergency services
Energy
Financial services
Food and agriculture
Government services and facilities
Healthcare and public health
Information technology
Nuclear reactors, materials, and waste
Transportation systems
Water and wastewater
The comment period on the proposed rule will run until July 5, 2026.
Elistair, manufacturer of tethered drones for security applications, participated in Orion 2026, France’s most ambitious joint military exercise in decades. In the exercise, Elistair contributed its Khronos automated tethered DroneBox, used for ISR and tactical communications missions.
Running from February to April, ORION 2026 mobilized up to 12,500 military personnel across the country in a high-intensity, multi-domain scenario involving land, sea, air, space, cyber and electromagnetic domains. More than 1,200 drones of all types were deployed throughout the exercise.
Elistair participated in Phase O4 (April 7–30) following its fisrt contribution during Phase O2 in February, which demonstrated France’s ability to fully integrate into a NATO command structure for collective defense scenario. During the week of April 27, forces conducted offensive exploitation operations, river crossings, retaking of key positions, and live-fire exercises.
The Khronos system
Forces need real-time situational awareness in contested and GNSS-denied environments. The Khronos system provides continuous aerial surveillance from fixed or mobile platforms. It does not depend on GNSS, radio frequency infrastructure, or battery-limited free-flying aircraft.
Khronos deploys from a transportable DroneBox in under two minutes. The system can deliver continuous day and night imagery for up to 24 hours, making it a “pocket watchtower” for tactical units.
The tethered drone operates in GPS- and RF-denied conditions through a secured tether and advanced positioning system. Elistair targets armed forces, law enforcement, civil security agencies, and private security operators in more than 70 countries. The company runs operations from France and North Carolina.
Hexagon has successfully completed acquisition of Inertial Sense, strengthening its assured positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) portfolio with tactical-grade GNSS+INS technology.
The acquisition reinforces Hexagon’s long-term commitment to innovation in high-performance navigation technologies. Inertial Sense strengthens Hexagon’s positioning portfolio and further enhances its assured PNT capabilities.
Headquartered in Provo, Utah, Inertial Sense will continue supplying inertial navigation solutions and will be integrated into Hexagon’s Aerospace & Defence Division.
“Inertial Sense brings exceptional GNSS+INS innovation that advances our assured PNT roadmap and expands resilient positioning capabilities in GPS-challenged environments,” said Stig Pedersen, president, Aerospace & Defence Division, Hexagon. “Their compact, cost-effective solutions meaningfully enhance our ability to serve aerospace and defence applications.”
Inertial Sense is a provider of high-performance navigation solutions, with more than 30,000 inertial systems deployed worldwide across defense and commercial applications.
Inertial Sense was founded in 2013 by Walt Johnson, who started Inertial Sense 10 years ago to make precision navigation lightweight and affordable so that it could be deployed anywhere and accessible to any business. This includes the rapidly emerging industries of drones, mobile robotics, aerospace and defense, autonomous vehicles, and automated manufacturing, all of which would require scalable and affordable navigation solutions.
ICAO Secretary-General Juan Carlos Salazar told delegates at the 2026 World Overflight Risk Conference in Vallarta, Malta, that emerging military technologies — including long-range weapons systems, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), GNSS radio frequency interference, and advanced air defense systems — pose growing risks to civil aviation.
“We must now reach beyond the boundaries of aviation as we have known it,” Salazar said, adding that increasingly sophisticated weaponry is creating conditions in which civilian aircraft face a heightened risk of being targeted or caught in crossfire.
While praising the aviation industry’s ability to reroute flights and maintain operations during the recent Middle East crisis, Salazar said operational flexibility alone cannot address the underlying security threats posed by weapons systems.
He commended states and airspace users for measures taken to mitigate safety and security risks during the escalation in the Middle East, noting that more than 10 states partially or fully closed their airspace, significantly disrupting international air transport.
“This commitment to resilience, adaptation, safety and security is the foundation of our industry,” he said, calling for concrete steps to prevent civil aviation facilities, airports and aircraft from being targeted.
Salazar cited ICAO Assembly Resolution A42-4 and Article 3 bis of the Chicago Convention — which prohibit the use of weapons against civilian aircraft — as the legal basis for stronger protections. He said, however, that international law alone has proven insufficient as regional conflicts intensify.
Following ICAO guidance, Salazar urged states to take three immediate actions: rapidly share threat intelligence when activities pose risks to civilian aircraft; strengthen risk assessment and timely decision-making; and improve coordination between military and civilian authorities to prevent misidentification of civilian aircraft as military targets.
ICAO is finalizing a Global Crisis Management Framework to coordinate responses when civil aviation faces threats. Salazar said the reactive framework must be paired with proactive measures to prevent attacks.
The organization is also updating its Manual Concerning Safety Measures Relating to Military Activities and its Risk Assessment Manual for Civil Aircraft Operations Over or Near Conflict Zones, with a focus on improving how authorities, airlines and air navigation service providers assess threats from malicious activity.
Recent disruptions during the Middle East crisis demonstrated both the industry’s adaptability and the economic impact of operating in an increasingly militarized airspace environment. ICAO regional contingency frameworks have supported rerouting when airspace becomes unsafe, but officials said such measures are costly and temporary, not solutions to underlying security risks.
The two-day Malta conference, which opened April 21, brought together aviation officials and security experts from multiple regions to discuss implementation of safety protocols and information-sharing mechanisms. The Safer Skies initiative also serves as a framework for those discussions.
Salazar’s remarks mark one of ICAO’s most direct acknowledgments of growing risks to civil aviation arising from conflict zones, reflecting the organization’s core mission to maintain safe and secure international air travel amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Following the conference, Salazar met with Myriam Spiteri Debono to discuss global and regional developments affecting aviation, with a focus on the role of multilateral cooperation in addressing emerging challenges, including conflict-zone risks. He also commended Malta’s aviation sector.
Salazar was accompanied by Nicolas Rallo, director of ICAO’s European and North Atlantic Regional Office.
Patented software visual-inertial cooperative navigation technology has potential to target defense, counter-drone (C-UAS), electronic warfare, and autonomous unmanned aircraft systems markets
NorthStrive Defense Tech LLC has secured a license option in connection with a proprietary U.S. patented autonomous navigation technology through an exclusive option agreement with a corporation.
The technology is designed to enable autonomous positioning and navigation for unmanned aircraft systems and drones operating in GPS-jammed, GPS-spoofed and GPS-denied environments, addressing a core capability gap identified by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and allied defense programs worldwide.
NorthStrive Defense Tech LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc.
The option agreement provides NorthStrive Defense Tech with an exclusive option, within the aerospace and defense technologies field, to obtain an exclusive license as to certain patent rights for U.S. Patent No. 12,277,716 B2, covering a cooperative navigation system for unmanned aircraft systems, also known as drones, operating in GPS-denied and GPS-degraded environments.
The option is also for a non-exclusive license in the field as to certain know-how connected to these patent rights, as further set in the option agreement. On NorthStrive Defense Tech’s exercise of this option, the parties will enter into negotiations for a definitive license agreement.
The technology has the potential to enable drones to navigate accurately without GPS by using onboard cameras and inertial sensors to estimate position relative to the local environment. The approach applies visual-inertial odometry (VIO) and sensor-fusion techniques, including an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) for real-time state estimation and cooperative multi-vehicle data sharing, which together represent foundational building blocks of next-generation autonomous systems.
When multiple drones operate, they share positional data in real time to collectively improve each vehicle’s accuracy, with performance formally evaluated under real-world GPS-denied conditions.
GPS-denied navigation has emerged as one of the most urgent challenges in modern drone operations. Conflicts in recent years have demonstrated that GPS signals cannot be relied upon in contested environments, where jamming and spoofing are routinely deployed to disable unmanned systems.
Vulnerabilities in GNSS signals have made anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities a top priority within U.S. defense modernization programs, the Pentagon, the DoD and allied NATO forces. That operational reality has driven substantial investment across the defense sector, with the GPS-denied drone navigation market projected to grow at a CAGR of 31.7% through 2030, according to Technavio.
Key potential capabilities include:
Vision and inertial-based navigation requiring no GPS signal (visual-inertial odometry / VIO with Extended Kalman Filter (EKF)-based state estimation)
Cooperative swarm localization through inter-vehicle range sharing, a foundational capability for drone swarm and counter-drone (C-UAS) operations
Scalable architecture supporting operations from individual drones to full swarms, with an architecture positioned for integration with AI-enabled autonomous systems
Technology formally evaluated for accuracy and performance under real-world GPS-denied conditions.
The system’s modular design keeps flight-critical estimation onboard each drone while requiring minimal data exchange between vehicles, making it practical for contested environments where communications bandwidth is limited or actively degraded.
Turkish UAV maker Baykar demonstrated its next-generation Kamikaze UAV K2 and Sivrisinek (Mosquito) loitering munition, showcasing AI-supported swarm autonomy, GNSS-independent navigation, automatic target detection, and strike capabilities during a demonstration held at the Keşan Flight Training and Test Center.
The K2 Kamikaze UAV and the Sivrisinek loitering munition will make their public debut at SAHA 2026, which takes place in Istanbul May 5-9.
The April 17 demonstration opened with the sequential takeoffs of five K2 Kamikaze UAVs within five minutes. Once airborne, the platforms conducted patrol flights in “right echelon,” “line,” “V,” and “Turan” formations.
Ten Sivrisinek loitering munitions — a new platform developed by Baykar — then joined the operation, forming a swarm beneath the K2 Kamikaze UAVs. The Bayraktar TB2, TB3, and AKINCI UCAVs accompanied the swarm flight, recording the operation from the air.
Credit: Baykar
AI-supported visual navigation Among the key technical highlights of the demonstration were the solutions developed to counter electronic warfare environments. Using AI-supported visual navigation software, the platforms demonstrated the capability to perform positioning and navigation independently of GNSS.
Having successfully showcased autonomous navigation in a GNSS-denied environment, the K2 and Sivrisinek Kamikaze UAVs also demonstrated AI-supported automatic target detection and automatic strike capabilities.
As part of the demonstration, a fleet of Sivrisinek loitering munitions executed a dive on the designated coordinates. A K2 Kamikaze UAV then broke off from the swarm and performed a high-speed dive on the designated coordinates, conducting a pass. In the final phase of the demonstration, a swarm group composed of 18 unmanned aerial vehicles across different classes — 5 K2s, 10 Sivrisinek, 1 Bayraktar TB2, 1 TB3, and 1 AKINCI — came together in a “V” formation to salute the delegation observing the flight.
Developed by Baykar, the next-generation Sivrisinek loitering munition raises operational depth to a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers. Capable of uninterrupted communication within the swarm through AI support, Sivrisinek platforms can instantly share detected targets with one another.
Performing its missions through AI-based visual positioning even in the most challenging environments — including areas where GNSS signals are unavailable or subject to intensive jamming — Sivrisinek stands out in strategic missions to be conducted on the battlefield thanks to its high autonomy capability.
FastXY can transform standard mobile devices into professional-grade data collection tools for geospatial information systems (GIS) and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals. FastXY offers professionals the ability to collect point, line and polygon data, and delivers advanced capabilities including 3D basemaps, construction staking, topographic surveying, on-the-fly datum transformations and survey-grade elevations. A built-in Bluetooth data parser allows users to configure the app to collect data from virtually any instrument supporting BLE Bluetooth or RS-232 — including echosounders, radiation sensors, laser rangefinders, barcode scanners and more — and marry that data instantly with precise GNSS coordinates. Available in free and premium versions.
Handheld scanner: Designed for BIM, indoor scanning and reality capture
The RS7 handheld SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) scanning solution was built for BIM documentation, indoor surveying, renovation planning and complex spatial analysis. It is designed to help professionals capture high-density 3D data efficiently and convert it into practical deliverables through CHCNAV’s software and cloud ecosystem. The RS7 integrates a next-generation lidar scanner capable of measuring up to 1.15 million points per second. Its wide field of view (360° x 189°) supports comprehensive coverage of floors, walls and ceilings, helping reduce the need for repeated passes and complex capture maneuvers in tight or cluttered spaces. The scanner also includes a high-precision inertial measurement unit with bias stability better than 0.5°/h. By combining lidar and inertial data, the system is designed to maintain stable motion estimation and consistent point-cloud quality in environments that challenge many mobile workflows, including long corridors, repetitive structures, and feature-limited interiors.
Mobile scanner: All-in-one system offers SLAM, LIDAR, RTK and 360 degree imagery
The GX1 is an integrated, highly accurate all-in-one mobile scanning system combining simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), lidar, real-time kinematic (RTK) georeferencing, cameras and software. It supports a seamless workflow, from capture to deliverable, and can reduce the time required to survey a site by up to 95%. The independently validated global accuracy of 5 mm to 10 mm delivers the precision needed for topographic and road surveying, scan to building information models, construction progress tracking, and more. These capabilities are supported by integrated RTK georeferencing with real-time quality monitoring, four 20MP cameras for 360° panoramic imagery, and a proven SLAM algorithm. The GX1 has four deployment modes — backpack, survey pole, vehicle mount and supported handheld.
Quad-band GNSS rover: With support for Galileo high accuracy service
The SparkPNT TX2 quad-band GNSS rover combines an IP67-rated aluminum enclosure with support for Galileo’s High Accuracy Service (HAS) and standard RTK correction workflows. The receiver is built around the Quectel LG290P quad-band GNSS engine and supports multi-constellation tracking. Galileo HAS support provides sub-20 cm accuracy globally without subscription-based correction services, while RTK workflows via NTRIP or u-blox PointPerfect can achieve centimeter-level positioning. Battery life is rated at 50-plus hours, positioning the TX2 for multi-day field campaigns without recharging. The unit connects to iOS and Android devices via Bluetooth and WiFi, with compatibility reported for common GIS and data-collection applications. A notable design choice is the open-source firmware, which gives users visibility into how positioning data is processed and allows for customization and third-party integration. SparkFun has positioned this as an alternative to closed GNSS ecosystems where firmware and processing pipelines are not user-accessible.
Mobile
GNSS platform: Provides ultra-low power GNSS for all environments
The u-blox F11 platform provides L1/L5 dual-band standardprecision GNSS to improve positioning accuracy while reducing power consumption to as low as 7 mW in typical configurations. It combines ultra-low power operation with intelligent signal management to meet the evolving demands of tracking, wearables, telematics and mobility applications — including micromobility solutions and drones. The platform enables device manufacturers to achieve longer battery life, faster and more reliable position fixes, and greater design flexibility. Its situationally aware GNSS architecture, with integrated geofencing and indoor detections, dynamically balance accuracy and power consumption. By selectively using dual band L1/L5 operation only when it helps maintain positioning performance, the platform reduces energy use while providing resilience and maintaining confidence in location data.
The Iridium 9604 is a compact, threein-one internet of things (IoT) module that integrates Iridium short burst data satellite service, LTE-M cellular connectivity, and GNSS positioning into a single platform. The Iridium 9604 seeks to make dual-mode IoT connectivity viable for price-sensitive, high-volume deployments. Built on the u blox SARA-R5 platform, the module comes in a compact 16 mm x 26 mm x 2.4 mm form factor, suitable for dual-mode IoT deployments across industrial, infrastructure and mobility applications.
L1+L5 GNSS modules: For trackers and high-precision IOT
Two dual-band positioning modules built on Airoha’s AG3335 chipset series are available: the ultracompact SE873K5-D and the high-end SE869eK5-DRK. Both support space- and power-constrained IOT devices and use cases that require continuous, ultraprecise positioning. The modules provide a scalable path to adopt dual-band L1 + L5 GNSS.
Timing
Cesium-less clock: An alternative to cesium-accuracy holdover clocks
The patent-pending Cesium-less ePRTC360+ holdover solution is designed to safeguard atrisk infrastructure against the increased threat of GNSS timing disruptions. It is the only alternative to Cesium clocks to meet ITU-T G.8272.1 standards. It can protect critical power grids; transportation, aviation and public safety systems; 5G mobile networks; and AI data centers. It meets the international ITU-T G.8272.1 standard and has been successfully tested across a range of livesky defense and commercial jamming/spoofing environments. It has been integrated into VIAVI’s SecurePNT 6200 product series and can maintain 100 ns accuracy during GNSS-denied threats through the resilient altGNSS GEO-L service with no time limit.
The U4930 series is a reliable and cost-effective six-axis microelectromechanical system (MEMS) and inertial measurement unit (IMU) module for navigation, control and measurement of vehicles, ships and drones. Applications include vehicle/ship attitude measurement, UAV attitude reference and trajectory control, mobile mapping, track inspection and underwater highprecision navigation. The U4930 series integrates high-performance MEMS gyroscopes and accelerometers within an independent structure. The three-axis MEMS gyroscopes sense the angular motion of the carrier, and the three-axis MEMS accelerometers sense the linear acceleration of the carrier. The system internally performs compensation for zero bias, scale factor, non-orthogonal error and acceleration-related terms across all temperature parameters, maintaining high measurement accuracy over a long period of time. The module supports custom communication protocols and provides synchronization for GPS/GNSS time data and pulse per second (PPS) signals.
Underground navigation: For navigating mines and unmapped environments
Chimera Land is a 3D laser velocity sensor (LVS) designed to solve the primary challenge for underground mining: maintaining precise vehicle positioning in deep, dark and unmapped environments where GPS cannot reach. When fused with an Advanced Navigation inertial navigation system (INS), Chimera Land allows underground vehicles to maintain stable navigation over extended distances and time. Instead of needing to query an external beacon or satellite for its location, the sensor uses specialized lasers to measure a vehicle’s ground-relative 3D velocity with high accuracy. By feeding this precise data into the vehicle’s INS, the sensor eliminates the drift that typically comes with standalone INS. Using AdNav Intelligence, the result is a resilient, high-performance, infrastructure-light positioning solution that excels in the highdust, zero-light conditions typical of underground mines.
Simulators
GNSS test tool: Provides real-world testing with signals from the field
The SimXTRACT GNSS test tool bridges the gap between field and laboratory. It enables signals captured in field environments to be comprehensively decomposed into individual, discrete signals and applied to lab simulation for realism at every stage of the development test cycle. Developers usually rely on either RF record-and-playback or lab simulation for testing and validation of PNT systems and devices. SimXTRACT takes real signals captured in field environments and performs complex signal decomposition, breaking down each received signal into discrete line-of-sight and multipath ray paths, along with metadata such as Doppler offset, code error, power level and angle of arrival. This decomposed environment is then automatically converted into fully controllable simulation scenarios for Spirent GNSS simulators.
Autonomous
Inertial measurement unit: For unmanned air, land and sea
Honeywell launched the HGuide i700, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that delivers high-accuracy performance for unmanned air, land and sea vehicles. By pairing near navigation-grade capability with a nolicense-required (NLR) classification, the HGuide i700 provides integrators worldwide with a new option for critical sensing and navigation. The HGuide i700 uses high reliability sensors and electronic architecture found in Honeywell’s HG3900 inertial measurement unit (IMU). Compact and low power, the HGuide i700 delivers near-navigationgrade accuracy and reliability while being optimized to support longer range navigation in GNSS-denied environments. The HGuide i700 offers strong GNSS-denied performance for by limiting maximum acceleration and spin rates in a license-free package. The latest in Honeywell’s HGuide suite of no-license inertial solutions, the HGuide i700 allows customers to streamline development cycles, simplify system architecture and transition to field deployment quickly. The HGuide i700’s rugged design, compact size and low-power profile make it suitable for diverse commercial, industrial and defense applications, including autonomous vehicles, mapping and surveying.
Anti-jam antenna system: Provides multi-constellation, multi-frequency GNSS signal protection
The GAJT-AE3 protects all major GNSS constellations from jamming with full multiconstellation, multi-frequency coverage, ensuring reliable PNT in demanding airborne environments. Its antenna electronics mitigate interference by creating up to seven nulls per band in the direction of jammers, providing significant anti-jam protection even in dynamic multi-jammer scenarios. The output is a protected radio frequency signal, free from jamming and suitable for input to modern and legacy GNSS receivers. The GAJT-AE3 protects and supports all GNSS frequencies, including L-band corrections and Iridium PNT.
OEM
GNSS board: All-band multifrequency reception and HAS-ready
Syslogic’s new all-band GNSS expansion board for rugged embedded computers is powered by the u-blox X20 receiver. It supports all major GNSS constellations and frequencies, including L1, L2, L5, L6 and L-band, and enables the use of the Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS). It provides centimeter-level positioning, opening up new applications across industries such as autonomous field management, operation of construction machinery in remote areas, or navigation of automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots. The GNSS board is designed for worldwide use. The integrated u-blox receiver supports modern correction techniques such as RTK, PPP-RTK and PPP. For the first time, it has been fully optimized for PointPerfect Global, u-blox’s proprietary high-precision GNSS correction service, delivering centimeter-level positioning anywhere in the world. This is particularly useful in remote areas without cellular coverage.
GNSS L1/L5 breakout: For meter-level positioning in embedded applications
The SparkFun GNSS L1/L5 Breakout – NEO-F10N (SMA) is a compact GNSS module designed for meter-level positioning accuracy in embedded applications. It uses dual-frequency L1 and L5 bands, with the L5 signal offering improved performance in urban environments due to reduced RF interference within the protected ARNS spectrum.
The board supports concurrent reception of GPS, Galileo and BeiDou, and uses u blox dual-band multipath mitigation to enhance accuracy in challenging conditions. It features a single UART interface, with an onboard CH340 USB-to-serial converter for easy connection to a computer, and standard pin headers for integration with external systems.
The module includes an SMA connector for secure antenna attachment and is configurable using u-blox u-center software.
CHC Navigation (CHCNAV) has released the AlphaAir 6, a flagship airborne lidar system designed for UAV-based laser scanning, drone lidar mapping, and aerial surveying in high-relief and complex terrain.
Combining prism scanning technology with a high-grade inertial navigation system (INS), the AlphaAir 6 delivers a maximum ranging capability of up to 2,100 meters and supports efficient data capture at typical flight altitudes of 400 to 600 meters above ground level.
The AlphaAir 6 integrates an upgraded laser engine and a high-grade IMU with 0.3°/h bias stability to improve trajectory accuracy and point cloud quality. This design removes the need for pre-mission IMU calibration and supports stable, efficient data collection for topographic mapping, corridor mapping, and wide-area aerial survey workflows.
The AlphaAir 6 combines fifth-generation real-time waveform processing with advanced multi-period technology to capture richer, denser, and more precise lidar data across complex terrain, vegetation, and built environments. According to CHCNAV, even at an ultra-high pulse repetition rate of 2,000,000 pulses per second, it continues to support real-time point cloud output, giving operators immediate in-flight visibility and a faster path to survey-grade 3D results.
To meet different project requirements, the AlphaAir 6 is available in single-camera and dual-camera configurations. Both options use large-format CMOS sensors to deliver high-resolution imagery, while the dual-camera version adds an ultra-wide field of view to improve image coverage and increase mapping efficiency.
With an integrated design and a weight of 1.35 kg, the AlphaAir 6 reduces payload burden on UAV platforms and helps extend flight endurance. Open interface protocols support integration with mainstream multirotor and fixed-wing UAVs, giving surveying and mapping professionals more flexibility across different mission types.
