Honeywell is introducing a new software platform that enables inertial navigation systems (INS) to integrate data from multiple alternative navigation systems.
Modern navigation systems depend on GNSS inputs to maintain INS accuracy. When GNSS signals are jammed, spoofed, or blocked, the INS requires an alternative positioning source to navigate accurately—especially during extended missions.
When GNSS signals are unavailable, next-generation alternative navigation systems enhance the resilience of the INS by providing precise information on the platform’s position, velocity, and orientation.
Core components of Honeywell’s alternative navigation architecture include:
- Vision-aided navigation: Uses a live camera feed to compare ground imagery with a map database. This technology performs well in GNSS-denied environments, though its effectiveness is limited by visibility.
- Magnetic anomaly-aided navigation: Determines location by detecting known variations in the Earth’s magnetic field. It operates effectively in GNSS-denied conditions and is unaffected by weather, but its performance diminishes at high altitudes.
- Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite navigation: Utilizes stronger, lower-altitude satellite signals that are more resistant to jamming than GNSS. However, limited satellite coverage requires frequent handoffs, increasing system complexity.
While no single alternative navigation system can fully replace GNSS, Honeywell’s layered architecture enables users to combine alternative systems to meet specific operational requirements.
Rollout will begin in September 2025 with the vision-based navigation system, followed by magnetic anomaly and LEO satellite solutions in 2026.
