Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Independent Navigation for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)

Abstract

The ability of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to perform autonomous navigation depends on the accurate determination of their positions provided by the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). For position determination and environmental orientation during flight, UAVs are usually equipped with electronic equipment such as GNSS, Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), gyroscope and accelerometer. However, the GNSS signal may be lost or distorted due to poor weather, obstacles or terrain, the unfavorable position of satellites, spoofing and jamming. In such cases of GNSS signal loss or deterioration, the IMU alone becomes unable to provide reliable UAV location information. Especially in cases where there is not enough visibility and the UAV cannot be brought to the take-off point by manual operation, the loss of the GNSS signal causes great losses. In this paper, GNSS independent flight and navigation studies are included. It is seen that the use of hybrid navigation solutions has great importance in GNSS independent UAV flights.