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Australian technology company Advanced Navigation has successfully demonstrated a next-generation hybrid navigation solution designed for long-endurance operations in environments where global navigation satellite systems are unavailable or compromised.
Rather than relying on standalone sensors, Advanced Navigation has taken a layered, inertial-first approach, integrating multiple sensors through intelligent software to enable robust, adaptive performance.
The result is a resilient navigation system capable of operating independently of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), tailored for demanding missions and harsh operating conditions. The system, built around a software-fused inertial-centred architecture, is being hailed as a new benchmark in autonomous navigation.
“Navigation must evolve as the world changes,” said Chris Shaw, CEO and co-founder of Advanced Navigation.
“GPS is increasingly vulnerable – whether to environmental interference, severe weather or cyber threats like jamming and spoofing. The question isn’t if GPS will fail, but when. Operators need to build resilience into their systems now.”
At the core of the breakthrough is a fusion of two cutting-edge technologies: a strategic-grade fibre-optic gyroscope (FOG) inertial navigation system (INS) and a new laser velocity sensor (LVS). This hybrid set-up offers exceptional precision and reliability, even in environments where satellite signals are obstructed or spoofed.
The FOG INS is sensitive enough to detect the Earth’s rotation, providing highly accurate orientation data. The LVS, meanwhile, uses infrared lasers to measure a vehicle’s ground-relative three-dimensional velocity with unmatched stability and accuracy. It performs effectively across both terrestrial and aerial platforms, provided it has a clear line of sight to a fixed surface.
Crucially, the LVS also contributes to GNSS spoofing detection. By independently measuring velocity and comparing it to GNSS data, it bolsters assured positioning, navigation, and timing strategies with an additional layer of verification.
The system’s core software, AdNav OS Fusion, dynamically adjusts how sensor inputs are weighted based on their reliability and the surrounding environment. This ensures continuous, high-confidence navigation estimates even in signal-denied or degraded conditions.
To assess its capability, Advanced Navigation subjected the hybrid system to extensive field trials. In five vehicle-based driving tests, the system delivered an average positional error of just 0.053 per cent per distance travelled compared with a GNSS reference.
In each test, the INS operated in full dead-reckoning mode – GNSS data was logged separately for comparison but not used in real-time processing. The results confirm the system’s high accuracy and resilience in GNSS-denied scenarios.
The system also proved its versatility in airborne conditions. In a test aboard a fixed-wing aircraft over a 545-kilometre low-altitude flight, the hybrid architecture recorded a final positional error of only 0.045 per cent per distance travelled, showcasing its suitability for both ground and air applications.
The LVS is derived from LUNA (Laser Unit for Navigation Aid), a space-grade navigation system developed by Advanced Navigation for autonomous lunar landings. Originally engineered for NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, LUNA will soon be tested aboard the Intuitive Machines Nova-C lunar lander.
This transition from space to terrestrial application underscores Advanced Navigation’s ability to translate space-hardened innovations into real-world, Earth-ready solutions.
In today’s complex operational environments, relying solely on GNSS or inertial measurement units is no longer sufficient. From contested military zones to dense urban landscapes and underground environments, navigation systems must be resilient, adaptable and intelligent.
Advanced Navigation’s hybrid, software-defined platform offers a significant leap forward. Its multi-sensor fusion architecture allows for seamless updates and hardware flexibility, delivering autonomy and reliability across defence, aerospace, robotics and other critical sectors.
As Shaw puts it: “We’re not just building for today’s missions. We’re building the foundation for the future of autonomous navigation.”
