The GNSS – denied navigation capabilities of UAV Navigation assures optimum performance for Alpha’s helicopter UAVs.
UAV Navigation ensures that the Alpha platforms A-900 and A-800 can complete missions even if GNSS signals are unavailable or if they are jammed.
To maintain a stable position and/or navigate between waypoints, the majority of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) rely on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Furthermore, any small drone system that solely depends on Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors to estimate aircraft attitude and does not combine data from other types of sensors may be subject to GNSS jamming assaults. The design philosophy of UAV Navigation is that the UAV cannot rely on the availability of a GNSS signal; the system must be able to continue the mission even if the GNSS signal is unavailable.
When a flight control system is jammed or the UAS is operating in a GNSS-denied location, it loses access to positional data. With weaker systems, the only option is for the remote pilot to take manual control, which increases the chances of the mission failing and, depending on the distance between the GCS and the UAV, the UAV being lost. As previously stated, some systems may be unable to maintain UAV stability, resulting in the aircraft falling out of the sky.
This is a key flaw in many commercially available drone systems, which is why jammers and other anti-UAV countermeasures have become so popular in the business.
Due to the need for a comprehensive GNSS-denied capability in their UAV helicopters Alpha-800 and Alpha-900 systems, Alpha Unmanned Systems chose UAV Navigation as its flight control system provider.
Alpha’s platforms can continue a mission even if the GNSS signal is unavailable or jammed, thanks to UAV Navigation’s VECTOR-600 autopilot. The autopilot can estimate the UAV’s position and follow a flight plan, or alternatively receive a command to fly to a designated area – including the landing site – even if the UAV is beyond line of sight (BLOS). Because the autopilot’s sensor suite uses MEMS technology, the system can accrue navigation mistakes of up to 30 metres per minute; wind conditions may change this figure, but the important thing is that platform stability and control are maintained, and the aircraft can be retrieved.
“Thanks to UAV Navigation’s advanced dead-reckoning capability, we can disable GNSS for a limited amount of time, or we can escape out of a jammed area, in order to correct our position and attempt to recover the GNSS signal; if the worst comes to the worst, then we know we will be able to save the UAV,” says Alvaro Escarpenter, COO of Alpha Unmanned Systems. This is a more advanced feature that only professional or military-grade UAVs have. Commercial drone systems will begin a controlled descent to the earth if the GNSS signal is lost or jammed, resulting in a failed mission and the potential loss of the aircraft.”
Grupo Oesa – UAV Navigation
Since 2004, UAV Navigation has specialised in the design of guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) solutions for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with 100% Spanish capital.
The flight control solutions are known for their dependability and resilience, as they are employed on a variety of platforms and in a variety of weather circumstances. These include tactical unmanned planes with high performance, VTOL fixed wings, aerial targets, mini-UAVs, and helicopters.
UAV Navigation is part of the Oesia Group, a Spanish conglomerate with more than 45 years of expertise designing, developing, and maintaining cutting-edge technology for the Security, Defense, and Aerospace sectors, including a long history of avionics work on major projects. The Oesia Group has worked on critical and non-critical flight systems for the Eurofighter EF-2000, A-400M, F-18, C-295, P3-B Orión, and MH-60R throughout their entire life cycle (design, development, qualification, and maintenance). The FCAS/NGWS, Eurodrone, and SIRTAP projects have all enlisted the help of the group.
The Oesia Group employs over 3,500 people across 15 offices in Spain and America, with projects in 23 countries. Its mission is to make the world a better place by making it more efficient, safe, and sustainable. To extend these cutting-edge skills over the world, the company relies on a global network of distributors.
Alpha Unmanned Systems is a company that specialises in unmanned aircraft
Alpha Unmanned Systems is a leading engineering UAV systems manufacturer specialising in supplying customers with dependable and diverse tactical solutions, such as UAV helicopters and related UAV systems and services.
Our systems are custom-built to order and deployed to businesses and government organisations in over eight countries.
Surveillance, border control, maritime security, search and rescue, educational purposes, and transportation of desperately needed medical supplies are just a few of the roles they do.
The Alpha team consists of aviation engineers, electronic engineers, mechanical engineers, UAV pilots, and business experts who all have one aim in mind: to make your mission a reality.
ALPHA is primarily a corporation that specialises in aviation engineering. Every day, our team not only designs and builds world-class UAV helicopters and systems, but also researches and develops new ways to make them better, more useful, more reliable, and easier to operate.
