GPS-independent navigation: Asio Technologies guides drones with Nocta using roads and rivers

Nocta, the optical navigation system of the Israeli company Asio Technologies, enables GPS-independent navigation for Group 1 and 2 drones: they determine their position precisely and autonomously, without satellite signals. The company is thus setting new standards in an era in which GPS jamming and spoofing (signal falsification) increasingly endanger the safety of drone missions.

It is based on proprietary Geofusion technology. This combines inertial positioning, visual odometry and image-to-map matching, thereby preventing drift and delivering reliable real-time data – even when the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is completely blocked. Stable landmarks such as roads or rivers, which are little affected by changes in the environment, serve as references; the navigation solution thus remains robust.

The custom hardware works with smartphone CPUs optimised for image processing. Because the system draws only 5 watts and weighs under 250 grams, it is ideally suited to small drones. According to the company, it operates passively and is jam-proof, as it emits no active signals that could be jammed.

According to the company, it is particularly versatile because it can operate 24/7, by day and night, and in different terrain – desert, snow, urban. As a “black box”, it outputs standard GPS-like data, for example via Mavlink, without placing a load on the host platform. It stores extensive map data – for example entire countries the size of Germany – on an SD card.

GPS-independent navigation proven in combat

Nocta has reached technology readiness level (TRL) 9 and has more than 10,000 operating hours in real combat missions behind it, for example in the Israeli Operation Roaring Lion. Being platform-independent, it can be combined with on-board sensors such as LiDAR. Because it matches real-time camera images with stored maps, deviations are eliminated – long missions are thus just as precise as short ones.

The method has its limits over uniform surfaces such as open water and in poor visibility due to fog or rain. Such conditions often coincide with the requirements of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

In the tactical domain, NOCTA improves command, control and situational awareness. It can be used on Group 1 and 2 drones, fixed-wing aircraft, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft and helicopters. As it is easy to integrate as a secondary navigation source, it strengthens the autonomy of existing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems.

Especially in conflict regions with electronic warfare, NOCTA is consolidating its position as a leading provider of GPS-independent navigation. The company was founded in 2003, employs fewer than 60 people and has established itself worldwide as a mature provider.