Enhancing Defence Vehicle GNSS-denied Navigation:
Honeywell's Innovative Solution

Darren Fisher, Sales Manager, HGuide Inertial Navigation Solutions

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On the battlefield, precision and reliability are paramount, especially when it comes to the positioning of military platforms and vehicles. Recent experiences underscore the critical need for accurate location data across a wide spectrum of applications, ranging from guided munitions to logistics and artillery targeting.

However, the challenge of accurately navigating over long distances when GNSS jamming/spoofing and Line-Of-Sight (LOS) obstructions caused by buildings and foliage persist, make maintaining accurate positioning a complex task with significant trade-offs on GNSS denied performance vs. Size, Weight and Power with Cost (SWAP-C) and system complexity.

GNSS receiver jamming and spoofing mitigation techniques, from expensive CRPA antennae to simple filters have come a long way, but these can all be overcome eventually with more powerful or swarmed jamming signals and do nothing to help in heavily urban/forested areas.

Enter Honeywell, a pioneer in inertial navigation technology. While their flagship TALIN product line of tactical grade land navigators has been a stalwart in ensuring position and pointing accuracy for years, the evolving landscape demands hardened navigation solutions with lower Size, Weight and Power with Cost (SWAP-C) for light military and unmanned platforms that might lose GNSS signal for extended periods.

To address this need, Honeywell introduces a groundbreaking solution: the integration of their HGuide n580 INS/GNSS Navigator with the HRVS (Honeywell Velocity Radar System), specifically tailored for land vehicles operating in GNSS denied environments.

Typical placement of HRVS and GNSS Antennae

Honeywell HGuide n580 + HRVS Solution

The HGuide n580 by itself boasts Honeywell's cutting-edge technology, containing an Honeywell HG4930 IMU and a triple-frequency, multi-GNSS RTK receiver. Honeywell's sensor fusion engine blends the IMU, GNSS and other sensor data, delivering precise output information including position, velocity, angular rate, linear acceleration, roll, pitch, and heading, all in a no-license required package.

Traditional odometry methods to aid GNSS-denied performance in navigators such as the HGuide n580 often rely on wheel-based sensors which are prone to limitations such as wheel slip/spin induced error and mechanical vulnerabilities. Using HRVS to aid the navigation solution solves these challenges. Operating on the 77GHz band with low power output, it remains undetectable by adversaries, providing a discreet yet robust solution.

This unique integration ensures the HGuide n580 is aided with true Speed Over Ground (SOG) data without necessitating OEM-level integration. Moreover, its standalone capability simplifies installation, making it a versatile addition to any manned or autonomous vehicle.

Connection diagram

In extensive testing scenarios, the effectiveness of the HRVS-integrated system becomes apparent.

Comparing the real-time position output of a GNSS-denied HGuide n580 + HRVS solution against a GNSS-enabled reference system over a 13km journey at typical driving speeds shows a typical position error per the chart below of <0.16% of distance travelled.

Here we see the GNSS being disabled at ~2km into the test run to simulate a jamming event. From that point on, the HGuide n580 data fusion engine blends data from its internal HG4930 IMU and the HRVS velocity sensor to bound the position error to remain usually <20m over the following 13km of driving without a GNSS signal.

Horizontal Position Error (No GNSS) vs. Distance Travelled of HGuide n580 + HRVS

By disabling the GNSS input and relying solely on localised sensing, Honeywell's solution showcases its resilience even in extensive GNSS-denied environments. This innovative approach not only ensures continuous operation but also provides a reliable alternative when traditional satellite-based navigation methods falter.

Overlay of GNSS enabled reference trajectory (Blue) and GNSS denied n580+HRVS trajectory (Red)

In essence, Honeywell's integration of HRVS with the HGuide n580 sets a new standard in defence vehicle navigation. With its unparalleled accuracy, reliability, and adaptability, it stands as a testament to Honeywell's commitment to innovation in the realm of defence technology.

In addition to this unique land vehicle solution, a new iteration of the HRVS sensor will soon be able to measure velocity at altitudes up to 1km, allowing Honeywell to support a similar navigation solution for UAVs operating in long duration GNSS denied environments.

For more information please visit:
https://hguide.com | https://aerospace.honeywell.com