Leonardo and Telespazio have completed a proof-of-concept project with the Italian startup Raysilience aimed at providing backup navigation for unmanned aerial vehicles operating without GNSS signals.
The “Backup Solution for GNSS-Denied Navigation” project stemmed from Raysilience’s win of the Test-It prize at the 2024 T-TeC (Telespazio Technology Contest), Leonardo and Telespazio’s open innovation competition for university students and young researchers in the space sector. Raysilience was presented by a team from La Sapienza and LUISS Guido Carli Universities in Rome, proposing an autonomous navigation system for drones capable of operating where GNSS signals are absent, using a positioning method based on satellite imagery and advanced algorithms. The win came with funding for a proof of concept backed by Leonardo, which supported the project’s development and testing.
According to Leonardo, the completed system provides an alternative positioning method for GNSS-denied environments based on satellite imagery and data interpolation techniques, built as a plug-and-play backup that can be integrated across different platforms. The company said all planned deliverables were completed, validating Raysilience’s approach and demonstrating a Visual Positioning System (VPS) capable of delivering reliable positioning without GNSS. Leonardo said the results point toward broader use in UAV navigation and other scenarios where positioning continuity and resilience are required.
