November 27, 2022
In this way, it is immune to jamming attacks. By comparing the visual information with the spatial map, the system manages to locate the geographic coordinates of the tool at any moment. The company supplies the system to the IDF and a new security customer in the USA
The company ASIO Technologies (ASIO Technologies) from Masha Ha’Ain reported that it is currently integrating the NavGuard optical navigation systems produced by it on drones of a security customer in the United States. The NavGuard is a navigation system for tactical drones that is based on optical means only, thus eliminating the dependence on GPS, a dependency that exposes the drone to the risk of interception through a jamming attack. The company completed the development of the system this year, and it also supplies it to the IDF, directly and through drone manufacturers that work with the army.
Jamming is one of the most significant weaknesses of military drones. The navigation systems of drones are based on GPS for positioning and orientation in space. However, since these are weak signals coming from distant satellites, the GPS signals are very easy to disrupt. The jamming is carried out in two ways: the transmission of strong signals that mask the original satellite signals and thereby prevent their reception, or the transmission of misleading signals that send the receiver wrong information, causing it to “think” that it is somewhere else.
There are electronic protection systems on the market designed to block jamming transmissions. Asio offers total immunity from interference through a navigation system that does not rely on GPS but on optical navigation. The NavGuard is based on day and night cameras that provide real-time visual sensing of the drone’s environment. To understand the geographic location of the tool, the system compares the visual information coming from the cameras with a 3D map of the mission area – and locates where the tool is in relation to the map and provides the flight controller with the coordinates in the same format as GPS.
For example, if the drone flies over the Azrieli towers, the system will know how to identify this landmark on the map and thus understand the location coordinates of the drone. The optical navigation system can be used as a backup for GPS-based navigation or as a primary navigation system.
According to the CEO of the company, David Harel, in a conversation with Techtime, this is a unique solution of its kind in the world of tactical drones. “There are systems that work in a similar way for fighter planes, ships and RCM, but they are heavy and expensive.” Asio managed to develop a light-weight solution that fits the requirements of tactical drones. Asio is currently developing smaller versions of the system and for more flight descriptors, to fit more platforms.
Harel: “Our system increases the drone’s freedom of action and the operational confidence that it will be able to complete the mission. There is huge interest in this solution, and it has even increased following the war in Ukraine, where drones are widely used.
Asio currently provides the solution to military customers, but according to Hara, the danger of disruption also lurks for commercial drones. “This is a problem that worries the whole world of drones, not just the military. As soon as they start making deliveries over populated settlements, it will be necessary to address the risk of disruption.”
Posted in the categories: news, machine vision, drones, aviation and security
