DroneHome
DroneHome was a focused development and validation programme exploring extended-range terrestrial positioning for autonomous navigation applications.
The project was led by Omnisense Ltd in collaboration with Mozaero and supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) under the NAVISP programme.
Project objective
DroneHome investigated the use of extended-range ultra-wideband (UWB) positioning techniques to enable reliable autonomous landing and navigation resilience in GNSS-challenged maritime environments.
The objective was to validate system architecture, infrastructure optimisation, and synchronisation techniques capable of supporting sub-metre landing accuracy in dynamic operational contexts.
GNSS-degraded flight path, position error (NED), node geometry, and field deployment configuration observed during DroneHome trials.
System-level integration of terrestrial positioning within an autonomous navigation architecture.
System architecture and approach
DroneHome was built around a terrestrial radio positioning architecture designed to operate alongside GNSS and onboard sensing systems. Fixed reference nodes provide time-synchronised ranging measurements to the mobile platform, enabling position estimation independent of satellite visibility.
The system was integrated within a fused navigation stack, combining terrestrial ranging, GNSS, and inertial measurements. Explicit modelling of clock bias and drift was incorporated within the estimation process, enabling stable behaviour during GNSS-degraded or unavailable conditions.
System performance is governed by ranging geometry, infrastructure placement, and signal propagation conditions. The architecture was therefore designed to support flexible deployment configurations, balancing infrastructure density against coverage and accuracy requirements.
This approach enables a resilient positioning layer that enhances overall navigation performance, maintaining bounded and predictable behaviour where GNSS alone cannot be relied upon.
Position error (NED) during GNSS-degraded flight, demonstrating bounded and stable system behaviour.
Validation and performance
System performance was evaluated through a series of controlled field trials, including GNSS-degraded and GNSS-denied operating conditions. These trials were designed to characterise positioning accuracy, stability, and system behaviour under realistic deployment scenarios.
Results demonstrated bounded positioning performance within the 0–50 cm regime during GNSS-degraded operation, with stable and predictable behaviour maintained throughout dynamic flight profiles.
The system remained robust to temporary loss or degradation of satellite signals, with no divergence observed in the fused navigation solution.
Performance was strongly influenced by ranging geometry and infrastructure placement. Favourable node configurations supported consistent accuracy, while degraded geometries resulted in predictable reductions in performance, rather than abrupt failure modes.
These results validate the use of terrestrial radio positioning as a complementary navigation layer, enhancing system resilience and enabling continued operation in environments where GNSS alone cannot be relied upon.
Deployment and operational implications
The DroneHome trials demonstrated that terrestrial radio positioning can be deployed effectively in real-world environments, supporting reliable navigation performance without reliance on continuous GNSS availability.
Extended ranging capability enables reduced infrastructure density compared to conventional short-range positioning systems, supporting practical deployment across larger operational areas. This has direct implications for system cost, complexity, and scalability.
The use of a terrestrial positioning layer within a fused navigation architecture allows systems to maintain operational continuity in GNSS-challenged environments, including maritime, urban, and infrastructure-constrained settings.
This approach is applicable across a range of autonomous and semi-autonomous systems, including aerial platforms, ground vehicles, and fixed-site monitoring deployments, where predictable and resilient positioning behaviour is required.
The results establish a foundation for further development and deployment of GNSS-resilient positioning systems, supporting integration into operational platforms and future navigation architectures.
Reduced infrastructure
Extended range reduces node density and simplifies deployment.
Predictable behaviour
Performance degrades gracefully with geometry, avoiding abrupt failure.System integration
System integration
Designed to operate as part of a fused navigation stack.