Image: Versa PNT by Safran Federal Systems
What’s New: In our view, the highlight of this article in the GPS World series is Safran’s focus on sensor fusion.
Why It’s Important: Users need multiple sources of PNT to ensure robust and resilient service. The different sources confirm each other to prevent, or at least warn, when one goes awry due to spoofing or malfunction.
What to Know:
- DOD has been leading the way with its Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) approach for use of multiple PNT.
- Making this happen for civil users will likely be the leading technical challenge/ effort for industry over the next decade.
- Full disclosure: Safran Federal Systems is a member/supporter of the RNT Foundation.
PNT by Other Means: Safran Federal Systems
An exclusive interview with Garrett Payne, Navigation Engineer, Safran Federal Systems (formerly Orolia Defense & Security). For more exclusive interviews from this cover story, click here.
What led to the Versa PNT?
Garrett Payne
It is an all-in-one PNT solution that provides positioning, navigation, and very accurate timing. We can take in GNSS signals, as well as the satellite signals, and integrates that with an IMU for a fused solution. I work on the navigation filter and software inside it. So, I’ve been able to get deep into developing and fine tuning the filter inside for an assured and robust navigation solution. I’ve been able to integrate some other new kinds of PNT technology into that as well. So, I’ve been working on projects with integrating odometry for speed and measurements from a vision-based sensor for position fixing. Those are all complementary PNT sources that help the Versa. You always have a good fused solution, even if you’re in a GNSS-degraded/denied environment.
It sounds like a sort of extreme sensor fusion, integrating every possible PNT source.
Correct. GNSS has global coverage, of course, while some positioning sources, such as UWB, are very local.
