The stars guide sailors, planes and spaceships. They could also be used for drones. A team of researchers from the University of South Australia has developed a new astronomical navigation system that allows drones to do without a GPS signal to fly at night.
In an article published in the journal Dronesthe authors explain that this solution uses a fixed camera mounted on the drone which is combined with an image analysis algorithm to detect and track stars, estimate the position of the aircraft and correct errors.
A lightweight and inexpensive device
They highlight several advantages. First of all, this system which emits no signal and relies solely on celestial landmarks cannot be detected or jammed by external equipment, which presents a decisive advantage for drones for military use.
Furthermore, the device is much lighter than traditional astronomical navigation systems and uses only commercially available parts, making it very affordable. “ Unlike traditional astronomical navigation systems, which are often complex, heavy and expensive, our device is simpler, lighter and does not require stabilization hardware, making it suitable for small drones », Underlines Samuel Teague, one of the authors of the study.
Accuracy to within 4 km
Additionally, the system can be used to estimate position from any location, without prior knowledge of the position.
The use cases mentioned range from navigation at night or over the ocean without a GNSS (global navigation satellite system) signal to long-duration flights. “ This type of navigation is ideal for operations over oceans, or in war zones where GPS jamming is a risk. Besides the defense sector, it could also prove very useful for environmental monitoring “, explains Samuel Teague.
In tests carried out with a drone as part of this study, the researchers say they achieved positioning accuracy to within four kilometers, which is presented as “ remarkable considering the simplicity and cost of the system “.
There are, however, some limitations to consider. Celestial navigation can only operate at night and requires a clear view of the sky so that the drone camera can operate in nominal conditions.
The researchers raise the possibility of using short-wave infrared cameras to allow the system to operate in broad daylight. Further research is needed to determine whether this approach is feasible.
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