Jam-Proof: Asio Technologies' GPS-Free Drone Navigation Solution

David Harel, CEO of Asio Technologies: "The systems we developed are lightweight and small, and can be installed on every drone. They enable drones in the battlefield to function even if GPS is jammed, without requiring external communications."

Even the most diligent military planners, envisioning future battlefields, didn't foresee the extent to which unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) would play a central role in contemporary warfare. The war in Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in Gaza highlight the crucial role drones play in tactical and strategic missions. Drones are now indispensable for photography, intelligence-gathering, mapping, navigation, observation, guidance, and even attacks.

One major issue with drones is their reliance on a GNSS-based navigation system, with GPS being the most well-known. This dependence exposes them to the risk of interception through jamming attacks, potentially leading to mission failure and the exposure of sensitive intelligence information.

Jamming can occur in two ways: transmitting strong signals that override original satellite signals, preventing their reception, or transmitting deceptive signals (spoofing) that provide false information to the drone's receptor, leading it to believe it's in a different location. Both scenarios can result in severe consequences, such as the drone crashing or falling into enemy hands.

"Military drones double our power on the battlefield, but jamming is one of their more significant vulnerabilities," agrees David Harel, CEO of Asio Technologies. The company developed the AeroGuardian™, a visual navigation system for installation on tactical drones that rely solely on optical means, eliminating the dependence on GPS.

Harel explains, "Our AeroGuardian™ system offers complete immunity from jamming by using a navigation system that doesn't depend on GPS or connectivity with the drone, but rather on visual navigation capabilities." The system uses day and night cameras and advanced Machine Vision algorithms to provide real-time visual sensing of the flight path and accurately determine the drone's coordinates and location.

He further notes that existing electronic defense systems can only partially overcome jamming transmissions for a limited time, while AeroGuardian™ offers a revolutionary solution with precise results, allowing drones to function in disrupted communication environments and operate in instances without line-of-sight with the operator (BVLOS), even on completely autonomous platforms.

A revolutionary solution

Asio Technologies, founded approximately 20 years ago, began developing AeroGuardian™ five years ago to address the increasing problem of strong signals blocking satellite communications. The demand for such systems surged, particularly after the war in Ukraine, emphasizing the advantages of using drones in battle.

Harel points out that demand has substantially increased since October 7th, and the company had to expand its assembly line to meet the growing demand. Asio Technologies provides its defense systems to various clients, including militaries, internal defense and homeland security organizations, drone manufacturers, companies upgrading drones, and large security integrators worldwide.

Beyond the security market, there is a growing awareness of the need to protect drones against GPS jamming in the civilian market. Harel notes, "Civil aviation authorities now demand that drones be immune to failures and jamming," highlighting the importance of systems like AeroGuardian™ in ensuring complete autonomy and increasing flight range and security for delivery drones.

Technologies for the Digital Soldier

Alongside the security market, there is also increased awareness of the need to protect drones against GPS jamming in the civilian market. "Civil aviation authorities now demand that drones be immune to failures and jamming," notes Harel. "It's a problem that worries all drone operators, who fear that the drones will crash and harm people or property. Quite a few entities are already interested in civilian applications for systems that protect against GPS jamming. For example, delivery companies today require an operator for each drone or every few drones to ensure manual control in case of a problem or disruption. In addition to the possible saving in human resources, incorporating a location system that doesn't rely on satellite positions for fleets of delivery drones ensures complete autonomy even in cases of GPS jamming and increases the flight range and security."

What is your vision for the future?

"In addition to drone navigation systems, we are also leaders in technological developments for the digital soldier. For example, we have the Orion system for planning and managing tactical missions. IDF combat unit commanders use it to plan navigation routes, analyze lines of sight and control, and plan and manage battle missions. Orion does all this with the support of augmented reality and presents all these capabilities in 3D – everything in the palm of the soldier's hand on a small platform that resembles a smartphone. The Orion system has contributed significantly to the ground maneuvers in the current war in Gaza.

Another product, named Lynx, is a handheld thermal Imager carried by special infantry units, enabling them to augment targets from a 2D BMS system into a multi-sensor day-night Imager, improving situation awareness, time to action, sensor-to-shooter time loop and common language between forces.

Harel concludes, "Our vision is to give soldiers all the capabilities they need to operate optimally and safely on the battlefield while protecting them from the air using jam-free drones." Asio Technologies maintains its pivotal role in molding the trajectory of drone technology and ensuring the safety and effectiveness of military operations on the ground and in the air.

Partnered with Asio Technologies