The ANELLO Maritime INS integrates the company’s groundbreaking SiPhOG™ technology with its advanced sensor fusion engine to deliver unparalleled precision and reliability for autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) and autonomous underwater vessels (AUVs). The innovative design of the ANELLO Maritime INS combines the high-performance capabilities of optical gyroscopes with the compact form factor and low power consumption of silicon photonics. This results in a versatile Inertial Reference System (IRS) that delivers exceptional performance in GPS-challenged maritime environments.

“The launch of the ANELLO Maritime INS signifies a pivotal advancement in our mission to transform navigation, enhancing precision and reliability for autonomous vessels operating in GPS-denied or spoofed environments,” said Dr. Mario Paniccia, CEO of ANELLO Photonics. “Our technology has been rigorously field-tested across land, air, and now in sea environments. We are excited to offer a navigation solution for autonomous systems in challenging maritime environments.”

Key features of the ANELLO Maritime INS include:

• Reference-grade 100Hz position, velocity and attitude 
• High-precision 3-axis SiPhOG™ with < 0.5º/hr unaided heading drift
• Dual triple-frequency all-constellation GNSS receivers with static heading capability
• ANELLO AI Sensor Fusion Engine with advanced GNSS spoofing detection
• Highly accurate dead reckoning solution 
• Compact and lightweight design with low power consumption < 6W 
• IP68 – waterproof, resistant to corrosion, salt spray and chemicals
• Resilience in heavy shock and vibration environments 

Mike Flanigan, CEO of Seasats, commented: “Integrating the ANELLO technology into our autonomous surface vessels has significantly enhanced our navigation capabilities in GPS-denied scenarios. This technology is a game-changer for maritime operations, enabling safer and more efficient autonomous missions at sea.” 

This launch reinforces ANELLO’s commitment to providing comprehensive solutions for GPS-denied navigation across various domains. By expanding its portfolio to now include maritime applications, ANELLO Photonics continues to demonstrate its leadership in developing next-generation navigation technologies for autonomous systems across land, air, and sea environments.

ANELLO Photonics is actively collaborating with leading customers across diverse industries, including Construction, Agriculture, Trucking, Robotics, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Unmanned Underwater Vehicles, Autonomous Vehicles, Defense and National Security.

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“The VHF data exchange system [VDES], is being considered as a source of alternative PNT [A-PNT] for maritime,” said Michael Turner of GMV NSL, “particularly through the use of its ranging capability, known as VDES-R. However, more research and demonstrations are needed to add to what we know about the potential of these technologies in maritime navigation.”

Turner was speaking at the recent final presentation of the ESA-funded ADVENT project, of which GMV NSL was lead partner. “We wanted to investigate the use of novel VDES technologies for enhancing key positioning performance figures,” he said, “such as accuracy, integrity and security, to compliment ongoing VDES investigations aimed at improving A-PNT capabilities for relevant maritime use cases.”

ADVENT partners, who included GMV NSL, GMV Innovating Solutions and UK-based RHEATECH, looked at the impact of key system capabilities, such as VDES-R synchronization and timing, while assessing both satellite-based (VDE-SAT) and terrestrial-based (VDE-TER) services.

Key deliverables

The project developed a new VDES-R system simulator that can generate and process both VDE-TER and VDE-SAT signals, and it developed a proof-of-concept (PoC) testbed for terrestrial VDES-R, based on software defined radio (SDR).

The project also carried out a series of trials on the Black Sea, at Constanța, Romania, in October, 2023. “We deployed VDE-TER stations at designated locations,” said Turner, “and then transmitted VDES-R signals and received pseudoranges for positioning on the sea. We collected meaningful VDES data for post-processing.”

Among the results, the seagoing trials showed a 2D positioning accuracy of less than 50m, achieved using VDE-TER data in combination with VDE-SAT data and data from an inertial measurement unit (IMU). We previously reported on the results of another ESA-funded project, ICING, which demonstrated a positioning accuracy of about 1 km when using a single VDE-SAT ranging signal in the maritime setting.

Wider sights

Also speaking during the final ADVENT presentation was ESA’s Nader Alagha, who said, “It would be good to see a continuation of this work, because there are opportunities coming up on many fronts related to this topic. The AIS [automatic identification system] and VDE user equipment is now under discussion, in the context of preparation for certification and type approval, so if you want to be a player in this field, the time is right to get involved.”

Readers know that VDES is only one potential source of A-PNT currently being investigated in the maritime community, another being eLoran. Stefano Binda, NAVISP Element 1 Manager at ESA said, “We are very interested in looking at all the alternatives. In the UK, the UK PNT office is betting a lot on eLoran, and there are a number of studies and demonstrations going on. We know that eLoran systems are currently operational in China, in the South China Sea, especially for timing, and also the Russian military has a similar system, so eLoran is another one of the possibilities that should be considered.”

ADVENT was funded under ESA’s NAVISP Element 1 funding mechanism, which supports technological innovation in the European PNT sector.

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Collaborating with project leader Grimaldi Group were two divisions of advanced technologies giant Kongsberg, which investigated and prototyped new systems, including the integration and fusion of various sensors to provide accurate positioning and ranging data with high integrity. The GSAB system suggests the best path for berthing based on all available and relevant information sources, while augmented reality (AR) goggles provide an intuitive method of visualizing critical berthing information.

System subcomponents include an inertial navigation system wherein GNSS measurements are fused with motion/attitude data from the Kongsberg motion gyro compass (MGC). This enables the system to deliver robust and precise data on vessel location, velocities, and acceleration. Meanwhile, a perception system includes a camera-based sensor for determining steel-to-steel distances from the vessel to any obstruction and to quays.

The results of work by Kongsberg showed increased efficiency thanks to the new system, including a clear reduction in the time required to enter and exit from a port, and a corresponding reduction of emitted pollutants.

Joint effort

Also joining the GSAB consortium was Radiolabs, a non-profit research organization formed by Hitachi Rail, WestPole and the University of Roma Tor Vergata, l’Aquila and the University of Roma Tre. Radiolabs was particularly concerned with the investigation and prototyping of a new ground truth reference system. This entailed the integration and fusion of GNSS, IMU, and LiDAR-derived data to provide accurate positioning and ranging with high accuracy.

At the recent final presentation of the GSAB project, hosted by ESA, Federica Pascucci of Radiolabs described the results of her company’s work, which was based in part on previous work in the automotive sector. She said the GSAB work was promising, having verified the effectiveness of Radiolabs’ LiDAR-based system for positioning, with adaptations necessary for application in maritime scenarios.

Overall, the GSAB project demonstrated significant potential benefits in terms of cost and time savings, and improved safety and environmental performance. The partners will now continue their work in the framework of a new ESA NAVISP-funded project, GSAB2, aimed at demonstrating the system’s use in increasingly autonomous vessels and applying newly developed, advanced algorithms based on artificial intelligence.

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While GNSS remains the primary means of obtaining positioning, navigation and timing information while at sea, users in the maritime realm generally employ augmentation services provided by ground-based technologies such as differential GNSS (DGNSS), which correct GNSS errors and thus provides more accurate positioning information.

In a recent communication form the Europe Union Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA), the agency’s Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa said the new ESMAS provides GNSS augmentation in areas where DGNSS services are unavailable, not deployed or are beyond the maritime user’s range.

ESMAS is delivered via existing EGNOS space based and ground-based facilities and does not require any additional infrastructure. Thus, it is well-positioned to support navigation on the open sea and in coastal waters, covering harbor approaches and entrances.

Free for all

ESMAS is provided openly and freely, accessible without any direct charge. It is available via all SBAS-enabled GNSS receivers developed in accordance with International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. With such a receiver, users can navigate with increased accuracy and get GNSS error warnings.

EGNOS also interfaces with NAVAREA coordinators, to provide timely maritime safety information (MSI), including navigation warnings and other urgent safety related messages that are broadcast to ships through conventional channels.

Da Costa said ESMAS is targeted specifically towards aiding merchant vessels, but it is also available to all other SOLAS-conforming vessels from EU Member States and EGNOS contributing countries, including Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. Unlike other EGNOS services, which are delivered by ESSP under contract with EUSPA, ESMAS is to be delivered directly by EUSPA.

An ESMAS webpage includes information about real-time service performance and historical performance, along with all relevant documentation, e.g. service definition document (SDD), service notices, etc. Users can also ask service-related questions via the site’s helpdesk.

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The Seapath 385 system unites raw inertial sensor data from Kongsberg Discovery’s proprietary high-performance Motion Gyro Compass (MGC) or Motion Reference Unit (MRU) with GNSS data and corrections from RTK, PPP, or DGNSS. This integration results in a robust and highly accurate navigation solution tailored for the rigorous demands of hydrographic surveying.

Vidar Bjørkedal, VP of Sales at Kongsberg Discovery, emphasized the system’s groundbreaking performance, stating, “Since its inception in 1994, the Seapath series has consistently set the standard for excellence in hydrographic surveys globally. The introduction of Seapath 385 represents an evolutionary leap forward, combining enhanced hardware capabilities with refined processing algorithms to achieve unparalleled performance.”

The system’s improved dead reckoning capabilities are attributed to its sophisticated inertial sensors and updated navigation algorithms. The innovative use of GNSS antennas for both positioning and heading determination adds an extra layer of robustness to the system. The Seapath 385 also introduces a new post-processing format that consolidates all necessary data and system configurations into a single file, allowing for centimeter-level position accuracy through either satellite orbit and clock data or data logged from base stations.

Designed for ease of installation and continuous, reliable operation, the Seapath 385 is a modular system with a processing unit that handles all critical computations independently of the user interface on the HMI Unit. This feature ensures precise measurements with a data rate of up to 200Hz at multiple monitoring points, making it an ideal solution for accommodating sensors or systems that depend on motion or position data throughout the vessel.

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Ashtead Technology, one of the leading providers of advanced underwater technologies and support services to the global offshore energy and construction sectors, recently acquired six new Rovins 9-DVL navigation units, the latest all-in-one INS/DVL system by Exail.

A high-performance navigation system, the Rovins 9-DVL seamlessly integrates inertial navigation system (INS) and Doppler velocity log (DVL) functionalities, delivering highly accurate and reliable subsea positioning and velocity measurements. DVL is an acoustic sensor technology that estimates velocity relative to the sea bottom. It does so by sending a long pulse along a minimum of three acoustic beams, each pointing in a different direction.

Established in 1985, Ashtead Technology has one of the largest equipment rental fleets in the subsea industry, with over 19,000 assets serving its international customer base. This includes a comprehensive fleet of remote visual inspection (RVI) machines and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), equipped with sensors used in a broad range of applications such as pipe, sewer and vessel inspection, inspection of inaccessible areas such as turbines, gearing and engine components, and other types of preventative maintenance. With its purchase of the Rovins 9-DVL, Ashtead becomes the first rental company in the market to adopt Exail’s new INS/DVL technology.

Top to bottom

Accurate navigation is vital in the complex subsea environment, a challenging task requiring highly specialized solutions. Exail is a leading provider of cutting-edge underwater technology, including highly accurate and reliable subsea navigation solutions. The company is the fruit of ECA Group’s acquisition of iXblue in 2022.

Highly compact for easy vehicle integration, the Rovins 9-DVL combines Exail’s advanced fiber-optic-based INS with a Nortek DVL in a single housing. Tight integration of raw sensor data from both INS and DVL provides operators with highly accurate position, velocity, and attitude information.

With its advanced capabilities as an integrated INS/DVL system, and with its compact, horizontal design and plug-and-play feature, the Rovins 9-DVL will easily integrate into various Ashtead Technology subsea vehicles, helping to streamline operations. Of course, enhanced accuracy and efficiency in subsea navigation also entail cost savings and improved safety.

The acquisition of the Rovins 9-DVL units is the latest in a series of recent strategic moves undertaken by Ashtead Technology, augmenting its underwater technology portfolio through partnering with Exail.

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This brown algae, while a critical habitat for marine life in the open ocean, becomes a problematic invader when it accumulates in large quantities on beaches, releasing noxious gases as it decomposes and creating barriers to both sea life and human enterprise. From the deterring effect on tourism due to unsightly, odorous heaps of decaying seaweed, to the navigational hazards it poses to maritime ventures, and the potential health risks from airborne toxins, the implications of Sargassum’s surge are wide-ranging.

In a recent article, Orbiting Insights: Transforming Sargassum Seaweed Detection and Monitoring From Space, researchers from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS), detail how low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite observations are being used in mitigation efforts:

“To manage these challenges, researchers have turned to low Earth orbit (LEO) observations. LEO satellites offer extensive and repeated coverage, crucial for monitoring the vast expanses of the GASB [Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt]. Instruments such as the JPSS Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) provide daily global coverage useful for tracking large Sargassum mats in the open ocean, while Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites offer detailed imagery for smaller blooms closer to shore. Data like these are vital for predicting Sargassum inundation events and aiding in effective proactive action and response strategies.”

For a detailed overview of how PNT technology aids in ecology and environmental science efforts, read the full article on the NESDIS site.

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Speaking at the recent final presentation of the European Space Agency-funded ICING (‘Independent critical navigation’) project, Sven-Ingve Rasmussen and Øyvind Pettersen of Space Norway and Anders Bjørnevik of Kongsberg Discovery Seatex, explained why finding a new approach to PNT provision is so necessary.

In Norway, users who depend on PNT are increasingly experiencing disturbances including loss of GNSS, jeopardizing critical operations such as navigation at sea, search and rescue and air traffic control, compromising charting systems, and automatic identification and information systems. Now, the increasing occurrence of jamming and spoofing events, possibly linked to Russian activities, and particularly affecting Northern Norway, is driving the demand for new contingency technologies. The Norwegian Defense Ministry, notably, has called for the development of alternative means of PNT provision as protection against GPS jamming.

A new approach

Researchers have previously suggested that VHF data exchange (VDE) might be used as a possible alternative source of PNT data, and could form a basis for alternative PNT in a multiple-source solution using GNSS satellites. The ICING project set out to test this novel concept using VHF data exchange via satellite (VDE-SAT), where specific frequency bands would serve in the delivery of a purpose-designed, digitized ranging signal, a source of independent PNT for maritime navigation.

The newly launched NorSat-TD satellite, owned by Space Norway, provided the test platform, equipped with a VDE-SAT payload by Kongsberg Discovery Seatex. The latter company also provided a state-of-the-art VDE mobile station and VDE simulator software.

The tests resulted in over 1000 VDE-SAT range measurements, captured by a ground station in Trondheim, Norway. The measurements showed that VDE-SAT can provide ranging with a standard deviation of 335.2 m, with an identifiable and correctable influence of ionospheric time-delay. Additionally, a positioning performance analysis shows that a single satellite can provide positioning accuracy of near 1 km to maritime users. Thus, a single VDE-SAT ranging signal has the potential to compliment terrestrial platforms used for independent ranging mode PNT.

While a positioning accuracy of 1 km may not seem very impressive to many of today’s practiced PNT users, the ICING team pointed out that the project represents only a first feasibility testing campaign using a single satellite. As such, it should be seen an important first step towards possibly developing a new, multi-satellite, alternative PNT source, to serve areas exposed to debilitating GNSS interference. Importantly, in its final presentation, the team provided key recommendations for immediately improving the performance of this kind of system.

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This initiative seeks to address the operational challenges faced by ports worldwide, which are crucial nodes in the global trade network, handling an estimated 80% of international trade.

The complexities of seaport environments, characterized by limited visibility, variable weather conditions, unreliable GNSS signals, and the high cost of sensor technologies, have historically hindered the widespread adoption of automated vehicles and cranes. The partnership between BTG and GPR introduces a novel approach to positioning autonomous port equipment through the exclusive use of ground-penetrating radar. This technology seeks to improve accuracy and reliability across all visibility conditions, potentially reducing the financial barriers to automation for port operators by lowering both initial investment and ongoing operational costs.

The agreement grants BTG exclusive rights to utilize GPR’s technology within seaport applications, following a year of collaborative development between the two companies. The partnership aims to overcome the automation bottleneck in ports by eliminating the need for extensive infrastructure typically required for positioning systems, facilitating broader implementation of autonomous guided vehicles and gantry cranes.

Diek Neurdenburg, CEO of BTG Positioning Systems, highlighted the significance of the new system, emphasizing its potential to match the precision and reliability of traditional positioning systems without the infrastructure dependency. Moran David, CEO of GPR, underscored the collaboration’s intent to advance autonomous transportation in ports, noting the integration of GPR’s technology into BTG’s suite of solutions as a step towards realizing a fully automated port environment.

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Veripos announced today the launch of Apex PRO Correction Services with breakthrough RTK From the Sky technology. Hexagon’s Autonomy & Positioning division’s RTK From the Sky enables global, centimetre-level precise point positioning (PPP) accuracy in as fast as 3 minutes — without compromising on high reliability. Now, this technology comes to the offshore marine market through Apex PRO corrections to support safer operations and increased efficiency, resulting in higher productivity and minimised downtime.

With RTK From the Sky, Apex PRO becomes the world’s first high-accuracy, quad-frequency and quad-constellation correction service for offshore positioning with RTK-level vertical and horizontal accuracy, 99.999% service uptime and near-instant reconvergence. With the ability to layer multiple Veripos solutions combined with their 24/7/365 customer support and global coverage through L-Band and IP delivery, they provide a total solution for the most demanding offshore applications.

“Offshore positioning is a very challenging environment requiring the best positioning possible with built-in redundancy, resiliency and accuracy to maintain continuous and safe operations,” said David Russell, Marine Segment Manager at Hexagon’s Autonomy & Positioning division. “Apex PRO is the latest service to integrate RTK From the Sky technology, and we are excited for the continued safety of operations and reduced environmental impacts the service enables.”

Apex PRO is compatible with existing Veripos hardware and software, including the LD8, LD900 and Quantum visualisation software. The new PPP solution builds upon Veripos’ proven track record of delivering innovation in reliable and robust positioning solutions for the offshore marine market. Learn more at veripos.com/services.

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