Ukrainian company Twist Robotics develops visual navigation system for drones
Ukrainian company Twist Robotics has developed a visual navigation module for unmanned aerial vehicles that is resistant to electronic warfare (EW) equipment.
Source: Technology Forces of Ukraine, an association of Ukrainian private arms producers
Details: According to Technology Forces of Ukraine, around 75% of small tactical UAV losses at the front are caused by EW. When Russian EW systems disrupt GPS signals, drones lose their orientation.
Twist Robotics has come up with a solution: OSCAR (Optical System of Coordinates with Automatic Relocalisation), which enables drones to navigate without GPS.
"The camera captures the terrain, then the algorithm identifies landmarks and compares them with a map, determines the coordinates, and transmits them to the autopilot as a reliable GPS signal," Twist Robotics explained.
The developer said the system is fully resistant to spoofing (navigation signal substitution) and jamming, is accurate at up to 20 m without cumulative error during flight, and can operate during the day, at night, and even in fog.
According to the developers, the solution is based on experience gained by the company over the past 24 months. During this time, Twist Robotics platforms equipped with the module have covered more than 500,000 km – the equivalent of 25,000 combat missions.
Twist Robotics also said that using artificial intelligence and its proprietary Obrii simulator, it can model complex combat conditions during development and adapt the solution for real-world operational use.
Background: Earlier, it was reported that the Ukrainian company General Cherry has integrated a cruise control system into its radio-controlled drones, ensuring stable flight, reducing operator workload, and enabling them to pass through EW-saturated zones without losing the aircraft.
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