ANELLO Photonics, a leading innovator in inertial navigation solutions, is disrupting the field with its groundbreaking SiPhOG™ (Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope) technology.
In this exclusive interview, UST talks to Dr. Mario Paniccia, CEO at ANELLO about the company’s mission to democratize access to high-performance navigation sensors, the transformative potential of SiPhOG, and the company’s vision for the future of silicon photonics and optical gyroscopes.
Meet the ANELLO Team at CES 2025, 7th-10th January in Las Vagas, Booth #10570.
Can you explain ANELLO Photonics’ core mission and how it ties into your work with optical gyroscope technology, especially the Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope, or SiPhOG?
ANELLO’s mission is all about creating high-performance, affordable navigation sensors for a range of autonomous applications. This mission is closely linked to our focus on navigation in GPS-denied and contested environments through the advancement of optical gyroscope techology, particularly through the SiPhOG. The idea is to address a market gap by making high-quality, cost-effective navigation sensors.
That’s interesting. How does the SiPhOG fit into that mission specifically?
The SiPhOG is a high-performance system with features like low drift rates—less than 0.5° per hour—which is crucial for accurate navigation in GPS-denied environments. Plus, it’s incredibly compact, roughly the size of a 25-cent coin, and uses minimal power, which makes it ideal for autonomous systems. It’s also affordable thanks to silicon photonics, so it bridges the gap between expensive traditional fiber-optic gyroscopes and cheaper, less capable alternatives like MEMS sensors.
What challenges in the current market does the SiPhOG tackle, especially for unmanned systems?
SiPhOG technology addresses several key issues. First, size and weight—traditional gyroscopes can be bulky, but the SiPhOG is tiny and lightweight, perfect for drones or small robots. Second, power efficiency—at less than 1.3 watts, it’s much more energy-efficient than most alternatives. And then there’s cost; silicon photonics makes it far cheaper than traditional fiber-optic gyroscopes. It’s also designed to work reliably in GPS-denied environments, withstand interference like jamming or spoofing, and handle harsh conditions like vibration and shock.
How does the SiPhOG compare to traditional fiber optic gyroscopes or MEMS-based sensors in terms of meeting the demand for smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient sensors?
It’s a huge improvement. Traditional FOGs are larger and consume more power, sometimes as much as 8 watts, while the SiPhOG is smaller, lighter, and far more efficient. It maintains high performance with low drift rates under 0.5° per hour, something MEMS-based sensors can’t achieve. Plus, it’s more scalable and easier to manufacture since it’s built with semiconductor processes rather than the manual alignment required for traditional FOGs.
What about manufacturing and integration? Does the SiPhOG have any unique advantages there?
Definitely. It’s built using scalable semiconductor manufacturing, so it can be produced in large volumes at a lower cost. The compact size makes it easy to integrate into various systems, like drones or autonomous vehicles.
It’s also durable, with no moving parts, so it’s resistant to temperature changes and vibrations. We are also working on adding more functionality over time, making the sensors even smaller, lighter, and more cost-efficient. The SiPhOG is impressively robust and insensitive to temperature and EMI. This robustness is particularly valuable for unmanned systems operating in harsh environments.
Where do you see the field of silicon photonics and optical gyroscopes heading, and how is ANELLO planning to stay ahead?
ANELLO is focused on enhancing performance, like further reducing the already impressive drift rate, with the aim to rival high-end fiber-optic gyroscopes. We’re also working on miniaturization to integrate the technology into even smaller systems.
Beyond that, we’re improving scalability and cost efficiency, to enable wider and more mass-market adoption. We are also expanding into areas like construction, agriculture, and defense, and forming strategic partnerships to push the tech even further. It’s an exciting time for the field, and ANELLO is definitely at the forefront.
Thank you for your time today, it’s been really insightful and we look forward to following ANELLO’s continued progress within the unmanned sector.
